Sugar production in the first two months of the current season that began in October increased 17 per cent over corresponding last year on the back of higher output in Uttar Pradesh.
The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) estimates sugar output for the first two months at 21.62 lakh tonnes against 18.46 lakh tonnes in corresponding period last year. “It is probably due to this higher sugar production that the sugar prices have softened slightly in the last few days,” ISMA said in a statement.
This higher output is despite only fewer sugar mills commencing their crushing operations. An estimated 350 of the 500-odd functional mills across the country were operational during the period as against 355 last year.
In Uttar Pradesh, the output has almost trebled in the first two months to 5.30 lakh tonnes from 1.83 lakh tonnes in the corresponding previous year.
Industry officials attribute this higher output to the early crushing forced by the State Government. About 96 factories in Uttar Pradesh have started crushing by November-end against 81 last year.