Need to raise global sugar output: ISO

Global sugar production needs to be increased by 28 million tonnes (mt ) to 200 mt by 2020 to meet rising demand, a top official of the International Sugar Organisation (ISO) said on Monday.

“Currently, we have a production of 172 mt. We have to increase production by 28 mt. It is a tremendous task,” ISO executive director Peter Baron told reporters here.

Baron is in India to attend the 41st session of the International Sugar Council, governing body of ISO, to be held here from tomorrow.

Demand is expected to increase in China and Africa, where consumption is much lower than the world per capita average of 24 kg per annum, he said. While China’s sugar consumption is 10-11 kg, Africa’s consumption is lower. India’s sugar consumption is around 19 kg per annum, he added.

India is the world’s second biggest sugar producer after Brazil, and the largest consumer. The country is expected to produce 25.2 mt this year, as against the domestic demand of 22 mt.

On India’s flip-flop sugar export policy, Baron said, “We understand the responsibility of the Indian government to supply sugar to domestic consumers. Therefore, it is not an easy fix and progress is slow.”

India has allowed export of three mt this year, of which the government is yet to notify one mt. On decontrol of Indian sugar industry, Baron said, “We don’t interfere in domestic policy... the responsibility of the government is very high. I appreciate their caution in deregulation.”