BEIJING: China set the 2021 sugar import quota at 1.945mn tonnes, unchanged from the previous year, the commerce ministry said on Monday.

Among the total import quota for the commodity, 70% would be allocated to state-owned firms, the Ministry of Commerce said in a notice published on its website.

Companies that got import quota and have actually brought in shipments of the commodity in 2020, can apply for the quota in the new year, the statement said.

Companies that have processed 600 tonnes and more raw sugar per day in 2019, or sold 450 million yuan ($63.73 million) and more worth of sugar during the year, are also qualified to apply, the statement said.