The government may consider giving millers and refiners more time to export refined sugar under the advance license scheme in a bid to ensure adequate supplies in the domestic market if prices continue to rise in the run-up to Diwali. The government may raise time period from six months to 18 months or two years, depending on when the country has a sugar surplus. For the time being, the move would ensure enough supplies in the market. The advance licence scheme allows import of duty-free raw sugar, but on condition that the refined sugar produced from the imported sweetener will be exported within six months.