Ethanol tender raises rice versus maize feedstock concerns

Oil marketing companies' ethanol tender for supply year 2026-27 has worried grain-based producers and parts of the sugar industry. It sets ₹60.32 a litre for surplus foodgrains, capped at 108 crore litres for three quarters, ₹64 for damaged grains and ₹66 for maize. Ethanol from cane juice, syrup and B-heavy molasses is excluded, while C-heavy molasses remains eligible.