As per the recent statement from the Indian Sugar Milla Association (ISMA) this year until November 30, Sugar mills in India have produced 18.85 lakh tonnes (LT) of sugar. It is almost 54 percent lower than 40.69 LT produced during the corresponding in the previous year.
Less production is attributed to the delayed commencement of crushing in Maharashtra which is the second-largest sugar producing state in the country.
This year the crushing of sugarcane started late around November 22 as the state received excess rainfall.
Presently, 279 sugar mills across the country are crushing sugarcane as against 418 mills in the same period last year.
If we talk about Uttar Pradesh, then 111 sugar mills were crushing sugarcane as on November 30, leading to the production of 10.81 LT of sugar. In comparison, 105 mills produced 9.14 LT sugar in the same period last year in Uttar Pradesh.
The statement further mentioned Maharashtra wherein only 43 sugar mills produced 67,000 tonnes of sugar till November as against 18.89 LT of sugar in the corresponding period last year by 175 mills which were in operation.
Crushing operations were delayed in Gujarat too. Fourteen mills that are in operation produced only 75,000 tonnes of sugar till November 30 as against 2.05 LT in the previous year.
In the rest of the states, a total of 1.41 LT of sugar have been produced by 50 mills in the same period as against 2.21 LT by 60 mills year-on-year.
If we go by the trade and market sources then about 15 LT of sugar have been contracted for exports, which includes contracts made with port-based refiners by sugar mills. Major destinations for sugar exports are Iran, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and African countries.
If we look at the information available from the State governments, sugar mills owe farmers about Rs. 5,000 crore pertaining to the 2018-19 sugar season as on November 30.
Image Credits – Business Line
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