Sugar production has increased by about 16 lakh tonnes to 74.61 lakh tonnes in 2014- season till December 31, against 58.63 lakh tonnes last year, according to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).

The sugar producers body said this season a lower number were in operation. “As on December 31, 2014, 481 sugar mills were in operation in the country as against 485 sugar mills operated last year same period,” it said in a release on Monday, adding that 499 sugar mills operating as on December 31, 2012, produced 80.32 lakh tonnes of the sweetner.

In Uttar Pradesh, 117 sugar mills were in operation on December 31, against 119 last year, and have produced 17.21 lakh tonnes so far, as compared with 11.19 lakh tonnes last year. In 2012-13, however, sugar production in UP up to December 31, was higher at 19.03 lakh tonnes.

“This year’s production is slightly higher than last year mainly because the UP mills started their crushing operations almost a week before last year. Sugar recovery percentage till December 31, is higher at 9.25 per cent, which was 8.75 per cent last year,” ISMA said.

In Maharashtra, 171 sugar mills produced 32.75 lakh tonnes, 10.41 lakh tonnes higher than last year when 155 sugar mills were under operation. In 2012-13 sugar season, 158 sugar mills were in operation in Maharashtra and had produced 28.65 lakh tonnes till December 31.

The 63 sugar mills in Karnataka produced 12 lakh tonnes, against 59 mills that produced 12.34 lakh tonnes last year in the same period.

ISMA said in Tamil Nadu, only 15 sugar mills had started their crushing operations till December 31, against 35 sugar mills in the 2013-14 sugar season. As a result, sugar production in the State was much lower at 0.65 lakh tonnes up to December 31, 2014, against 1.62 lakh tonnes last year.

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