Sugar production has gone up by 11 per cent to 25.1 million tonnes during October-April, 2011-12, driven by higher output in Uttar Pradesh.

According to industry body ISMA, the country had produced about 22.6 mt in the same period last marketing year (October-September).

“Most of the increase has been contributed by Uttar Pradesh, which has seen a rise of almost 1.1 mt in sugar production at 6.95 mt this year so far,” the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement today.

The output has risen by five lakh tonnes in Maharashtra, a major sugar producing state, at 8.83 mt. Production in Karnataka stood at 3.71 mt, in Tamil Nadu at 1.57 mt and in Andhra Pradesh at 1.11 mt.

Buoyed by higher output, the association is confident of meeting its production target of 26 mt for the ongoing sugar marketing season.

“ISMA is absolutely certain that its sugar production estimate of 26 mt projected way back in July 2011 will be achieved,” the association said.

The balance nine lakh tonnes would come largely from Tamil Nadu which is expected to still produce about 6.5 lakh tonnes between May and September in the current season, it said.

During last year, sugar mills in Tamil Nadu produced 6.9 lakh tonnes during May-September.

ISMA’s production estimate is, however, higher than the Government’s estimate of 25.2 mt for this year.

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