Sugar production has marginally declined to 23.30 lakh tonnes in the first two months of the 2012-13 marketing year that started in October against 23.92 lakh tonnes in the year ago period, industry body ISMA said.

Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) attributed the fall in production to delay in start of crushing operation in Uttar Pradesh, the country’s second largest producer.

“As on November 30, 23.30 lakh tonnes of sugar has been produced in the country as against 23.92 lakh tonnes produced during the same period last year,” ISMA said in a statement.

“The lower production is majorly on account of Uttar Pradesh, where sugar mills actually started very late and are still waiting for declaration of cane price by the state government for the season 2012-13,” it added.

Sugar Production in UP stood at about 2.5 lakh tonnes in the first two months of the current marketing year as against 5.22 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year.

“In Maharashtra, as on date, there are 142 mills in operation, which have produced 9.50 lakh tonnes of sugar as against 9.94 lakh tons of sugar produced by 144 sugar mills last year,” it added.

The ISMA maintained its forecast of 240 lakh tonnes for the entire 2012-13 marketing year as against 262 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The country is the world’s second largest producer.

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