Sugar production falls by 2% in H1 2012-13

Drop in output in Maharashtra, Karnataka affects overall figure

Country's sugar production fell by 2% to 230.5 lakh tonne in the first six months of the 2012-13 marketing year that started in October last year due to drop in output in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Sugar production of India, the world's second largest producer after Brazil, stood at 234.5 lakh tonne in the year ago period.

Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.

"Till end of March 2013, country has produced 230.5 lakh tonne of sugar by crushing about 2,285 lakh tonne of sugarcane with 10.09% recovery. Till date, sugar production is about 2% less than last year," Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.

Maharashtra has produced 77 lakh tonne of sugar during the period, which is about 4% less than last year. Karnataka has produced 32.9 lakh tonnes of sugar, which is 7% less compared to last year.

The fall in production in Maharashtra and Karnataka is due to drought-like situation in many parts of these two states on account of poor rainfall during 2012 monsoon season.

Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh stood at 67.5 lakh tonne during October-March period of 2012-13 marketing year against 66.7 lakh tonne in the year-ago period.

ISMA has estimated 246 lakh tonne of sugar production in the full 2012-13 marketing year as against 263 lakh tonne in the previous year.

ISMA, however said, that production would be about 16 lakh tonne more than the expected sugar quota to be released by the government at 230 lakh tonne for 2012-13.