Industry body lowers sugar output estimate to 26 month in 2015-16

Industry body ISMA today revised downwards the country's sugar production estimate by 1 million tonnes to 26 million tonnes in 2015-16 due to lower yields in the wake of rain deficit.

"We have revised the sugar production estimates to 26 million tonnes from the earlier projection of 27 million tonnes," Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) Director General Abinash Verma told reporters here.

ISMA's latest production estimates are in line with the government's forecast.

Sugar production of India, the world's second-largest producer after Brazil, stood at 28.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 marketing year (October-September).

The drop in production is mainly in Maharashtra by 3 lakh tonnes, Verma said.

Sugar mills have produced 11.09 million tonnes till January 15 of the current marketing year, up 7% from the year-ago period.