India is imposing restrictions on sugar exports to increase its availability in the domestic market and prevent price hikes, local publication The Economic Times reported.

The government has made it mandatory for suppliers to obtain permits to sell sugar abroad between June 1 and October 31. This applies to exports of raw sugar, refined sugar and white sugar, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. The restrictions will not apply to sugar shipments to the US and the European Union under the quotas set earlier.

India has imposed restrictions on sugar exports for the first time in six years.

The country is the world’s largest producer of this product and the second largest exporter after Brazil, so India’s steps will affect the cost of sugar around the world, experts say.

Earlier India imposed a ban on wheat supplies abroad. The actions of the country’s authorities were caused by the events in Ukraine and the sanctions against Russia imposed in connection with it, which caused a rise in prices for various agricultural products and fears of a global food crisis.