The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has revised sugar production estimate upwards to 24.3 million tonnes (mt) from its earlier projection of 24 mt on higher than expected output in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
In Uttar Pradesh, the largest sugarcane producing State, the output is expected to touch 8.1 mt, up from the earlier estimate of 7.9 mt. In Maharashtra, the output is expected to reach 6.8 mt, up from the earlier projection of 6.5 mt. So far, Maharashtra has produced 3.3 mt of the sweetener.
In Karnataka, the sugar output is expected to touch 3.2 mt from the earlier 3 mt as the northern part of the state has more cane on the fields.
However, in Tamil Nadu, the sugar output may be lower due to the drought-like conditions which may impact the yields and recovery. ISMA has reduced the output forecast to 2.2 mt from the earlier estimate to 2.55 mt.
In Gujarat, the output is expected to touch 9.6 lakh tonne from 8.8 lakh tonne, while in Andhra Pradesh sugar production is expected to be lower at 10 lakh tonne from the earlier estimate of 10.8 lakh tonne.
ISMA’s latest forecast is based on the satellite images of sugarcane acreage as on January 7 and the cane available on the fields. ISMA’s forecast is higher than the Food Ministry’s estimate of 23 mt for the year, while consumption is expected to remain around 22 mt.