The government has decided to reduce the quantity of sugar to be sold in the open market during the December 2012 to March 2013 to 66.50 lakh tonnes from 68 lakh tonnes. Earlier, mills were asked to sell 70 lakh tonnes sugar including the carryover stock of 2 lakh tonnes from October and November period of 2012. The Food Ministry in a statement has said that there would be no automatic conversion of any unsold quantity into levy sugar which is meant for ration shops. This relaxation will benefit sugar mill owners as they will be free to sell sugar in the open market as per their cash flow requirements, market conditions and individual commercial considerations.