Sugar output up 16% at 13.4 mn tonne till Feb

The country's sugar output rose by over 16% to 13.4 million tonne in the first four-and-half months of the 2010-11 crop year, as against 11.5 million tonne in the year-ago period

"Mills have reported sugar production of 13.4 million tonne till February 15 of this crop year. The output is higher by 16% from the year-ago period," a senior government official told PTI.

The government has estimated sugar output at 24.5 million tonne in the ongoing 2010-11 crop year (October-September), as against around 19 million tonne in the previous year.

The domestic consumption has been pegged at 22 million tonne.

The sugar crop year runs from October to September, but crushing of sugarcane normally ends in April in Maharashtra and UP, which together produces more than 60% of the country's total sugar output.

Last year, the country had to depend on sugar imports to augment domestic supplies and contain local prices, which had gone up as high as Rs 50 per kg.

This year's positive production estimates have kept retail prices under control at Rs 32-25 per kg and has given scope for some exports.