Sugar output up 56% at 17.81 LT in Oct-Nov: ISMA

India's sugar production rose by 56 per cent to 17.81 lakh tonnes in the first two months of the current marketing year that started in October, on account of increased production from Uttar Pradesh according to industry data released today.
Production stood at 11.4 lakh tonnes in the year ago period. Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.
The government has pegged overall sugar output at 250.5 lakh tonnes for this season, while the ISMA has estimated the production at 250-255 lakh tonnes. The estimates are higher than 244 lakh tonnes of sugar produced in the 2013-14 season.
The domestic requirement is around 247 lakh tonnes.

"Sugar production up to November 30, in 2014-15 sugar season is 17.81 lakh tonnes. This is 6.41 lakh tonnes more than what was produced in the corresponding period last year when 11.4 lakh tonnes was produced," Indian Sugar Mills Association said in a statement.
Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh, country's largest producer, increased 10-fold to 1.2 lakh tonnes in first two months of 2014-15, compared to 12,000 tonnes in 2013-14, as higher number of mills started crushing operations this season.

Since there would be an estimated surplus sugar of 20 lakh tonnes in the 2014-15 season, the industry body said that it is awaiting government's nod on continuing export subsidy for raw sugar and also help mills to convert surplus sugar into ethanol with incentive.

ISMA also added that due to surplus availability of sugar, with stocks held by the mills, the domestic ex-mill prices have fallen and are prevailing at the lowest levels in the last couple of year.
The opening stock of sugar was around 75 lakh tonnes as on October 1 of this season. There will be small surplus sugar for next season, which will, however, be within control.
India has exported 21.17 lakh tonnes in the 2013-14 season. Out of this, 12.12 lakh tonnes was raw sugar and 9 lakh tonnes white sugar.