COMMODITY
Sugar production of India slips 64% till November 15 in 2019-20: ISMA
Nov-21-2019

Industry body, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has said that production of sugar in India slipped by 64% to 4.85 lakh tonnes till November 15, 2019 in the current marketing year (2019-20) as compared to 13.38 lakh tonnes produced as on November 15, 2018, in 2018-19 sugar season, as mills in Maharashtra have not yet begun their operations. Sugar marketing year runs from October to September. According to the data, as on November 15, 2019, 100 sugar mills were crushing sugarcane, as compared to 310 sugar mills last year on November 15, 2018.

ISMA attributed the reason for fall in production to sugar mills in Maharashtra not yet starting their sugarcane crushing operation this season. The state had produced 6.31 lakh tonnes till November 15, 2018. However, production in Uttar Pradesh increased to 2.93 lakh tonnes from 1.76 lakh tonnes. Sugar output in Karnataka has fallen to 1.43 lakh tonnes from 3.60 lakh tonnes during the period under review as lesser number of mills have started operations so far. Maharashtra and Karnataka faced drought last year, because of which the area planted under sugarcane therein has dropped by about 30 per cent as compared to last season.

The industry body said with lower rainfall and water availability, the yields and recoveries would also be lower. Plus, the recent floods and extra rainfall have affected the crop further. The Maharashtra government has now decided to start the crushing of cane by the mills therein from November 22, 2019. According to trade and port information, about 2 lakh tonnes of sugar have already been shipped out for exports. From market sources and information from sugar mills, it is learnt that contracts for another 12 lakh tonnes have been signed by the parties for exports.

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