Sugar output down marginally in first 6-month on lower cane availability

Indian Sugar Mills Association reported total sweetener output at 23.05 mn tonnes by end of March this year vs 23.45 mn tonnes at the same time last year

Sugar output declined by a marginal 2% in the first six months of the current crushing season on reduced availability of sugar cane.

The apex trade body the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) reported India’s total sweetener output at 23.05 million tonnes by the end of March 31 this year compared with 23.45 million tonnes by the same time last year. Surprisingly, favourable climatic condition in the rabi season helped maturing cane crop fully resulting into 0.2% higher average recovery this year at 10.09%.

Maharashtra continued its leadership with 7.7 million tonnes of sugar output, 4% lower than the last year’s sweetener production in the first six months of the season followed by Uttar Pradesh with 6.75 million tonnes.

The average recovery in Maharashtra was recorded at 11.53% while the same was reported at 9.13% in Uttar Pradesh.

Out of 520 sugar mills which were operational during crushing season 2012-13, only 255 sugar mills are still crushing sugarcane at the end of March, 2013. Last year, during same corresponding period, 47 more sugar mills were crushing sugarcane. Non availability of cane for crushing was the major factor forced mills to announce closure of the season early.

ISMA has estimated 24.6 million tonnes of sugar production, which will be about 1.6 million tonnes more than the against expected government’s releases of 23 million tonnes tonnes of sugar for the season 2012-13.