Sugar price surge puts Mysuru hotel industry under strain

The sharp rise in the price of sugar and other essential commodities has put the hotel industry in Mysuru under severe strain.The price of sugar, which was around ₹40 a kg about 15 days ago, has now surged to ₹72, nearly doubling within a short period.The steep rise is partly attributed to the increasing use of sugar for ethanol production, according to the Mysuru Hotel Owners’ Association.The association president C. Narayana Gowda said prices of other essential commodities had also risen sharply. Onion prices have increased from ₹18 to ₹50 a kg, while the price of rice used for meals has risen from ₹50-₹55 to ₹70 a kg. Good-quality cooking oil, which was priced at around ₹140, now costs about ₹250.With cooking gas prices already high, any further increase in diesel and petrol prices would add to the burden on hotel operators and consumers, Mr. Gowda said.The failure of the monsoon in several areas has also contributed to the rise in prices of foodgrains and other essential commodities, the association said.It urged the government to intervene immediately and take steps to stabilise the prices and provide relief to the hotel industry and other sectors. Published - August 24, 2026 07:45 pm IST