New Delhi, April 20 : The Jute Commissioner has revised raw jute stock limits to zero for traders and balers and directed them to sell their entire holdings to jute mills by May 5, 2026, the government said on Monday.

The move was prompted by a sharp rise in raw jute prices that have remained well above the Minimum Support Price for 2025â??26, an official statement said.

It aims to improve availability of raw jute for manufacturers and protect workersâ?? interests. The government revised earlier stock controls and set strict timelines for disposal and delivery after various stakeholders expressed concerns regarding the availability of raw jute, the statement from the Ministry of Textiles said.

Under the revised limits, raw jute balers with a baling press on premises and registered with the Jute Commissioner must sell their entire stock by May 5, 2026, and complete physical delivery by May 15, 2026.

Other stockists, including raw jute balers not registered with Jute Commissioner Office and raw jute stockists without baling press, face the same nil holding limit. Jute mills and processing units are permitted to hold up to the equivalent of 45 daysâ?? consumption at current production rates.

All stocking entities were ordered to declare and update jute stock positions fortnightly on the Jute SMART portal.

Officials have been authorised to inspect premises and records, and to seize excess stocks found in contravention of this order.

State governments have been asked for assistance in enforcement action against the entities hoarding the raw jute.

Punitive action in terms of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 shall be initiated against any entity, which is found to be in violation of the instructions regarding declaring the stock positions or violation of stock limits, the ministry said.

The volatility in the prices and non-availability of raw jute have potential to threaten the jute industry and have potential for disruption in employment in the industry.

/IANS