Sugar output till mid-December is up 19 per cent at 45.84 lakh tonnes for the current year, led by higher production in Uttar Pradesh, the second largest producing State. In the corresponding period last year, the country's sugar output stood at 38.63 lakh tonnes.

The sugar year runs from October to September and the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has projected an output of 26 million tonnes for 2011-12, while consumption is estimated to be 22 million tonnes.

Production in Uttar Pradesh grew significantly due to an early start of the cane crushing season. Output in UP grew by over 50 per cent to 12.85 lakh tonnes till December 15 as against 8.55 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year, ISMA said.

Though the mills in Maharashtra, the largest producer, started crushing late, the output in the State grew by about 8 per cent for the period. Sugar output in Maharashtra till December 15 stood at 17.50 lakh tonnes as against 16.25 lakh tonnes in corresponding last season.

“Even though the mills started their crushing slightly late this year especially in Maharashtra, the production this year has registered an overall jump of 18.7 per cent,” ISMA said in a statement. About 452 mills have started operations till December 15, 2011 as against 445 in corresponding last year.

Production in Karnataka also grew by 12 per cent to 8.25 lakh tonnes for the period as against 7.35 lakh tonnes in corresponding last year.

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