Sugarcane crushing and sugar production have exceeded estimates in the 2011-12 season that concluded last month.
According to official estimates, sugar production in Tamil Nadu was about 23.50 lakh tonnes (lt) with over 252 lt of sugarcane crushed in the private, cooperative and public sector mills.
Sugar recovery was 9.34 per cent, slightly lower than the estimated 9.4 per cent.
The performance has exceeded early estimates pegged at about 220 lt sugarcane crushing to produce about 21 lakh tonnes of sugar.
There are 43 sugar mills in operation in the State with 25 private sector mills, 16 in the cooperative sector and two in the public sector.
Industry estimates peg sugar production for 2011-12 marginally higher at about 24 lakh tonnes with some production happening in the fag end of the season.
Sugarcane planting is around 6.80 lakh acres available for the current 2012-13 season.
While the planting area has increased by about 15 per cent, yield could drop due to the drought conditions in most of the areas.
The industry estimates production in the current season could match that of 2011-12.
M. Manickam, President, South Indian Sugar Mills Association, has said that it is early in the season to predict output.
Typically, a fair estimate may be expected only in December and a firm indication in March 2013.
Planting and estimated sugarcane output for 2012-13 is not much higher than in the just concluded season.
Sugarcane and sugar production in 2011-12 have been significantly higher than in the previous year.
According to official estimates, mills crushed 203 lt of sugarcane in 2010-11 to produce 18.46 lakh tonnes of sugar.