Mumbai: China, which bought around 100,000 tonnes of Indian sugar this year despite high tariffs, has held back some supplies for tests, a senior official of the commerce ministry said.

The shipments, being held back by the Chinese authorities for testing, were mainly for September and October delivery, the official added.

Chinese buyers have contracted some 100,000 tonnes of Indian sugar at a tariff rate of 50 per cent, assessed on imports that do not fall within the tariff rate quotas (TRQ) system agreed when China joined the World Trade Organisation.