Sugar output up by almost 2% to 7.87 lakh tonnes: ISMA

India's sugar production has increased marginally by nearly two per cent to reach 7.87 lakh tonnes compared to last year, mainly on account of early crushing in states like Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, an industry body today said.
"Sugar mills have produced 15,000 tonnes more till November 15 this year at 7.87 lakh tonne against 7.72 lakh tonne in the same period last year," Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said here.
Sugar marketing year runs from October to September.
This is mainly because sugar mills in UP and Karnataka have started earlier than their usual time, it added.
As on November 15, 222 mills have started crushing against 175 in 2015-16 sugar season (SS) same time last year.

Sugar mills in UP have advanced commencement of their crushing operations this season by a fortnight compared to 2015-16.

As on November 15, 55 sugar mills have been working and they have produced 1.93 lakh tonne, compared to 15,000 tonne in the same period last year, when only six mills were operational.
In Maharashtra, sugar mills began operations after November 5, while in 2015-16, the mills started their crushing in October 15.
About 95 sugar mills were in operation as on November 15, and they have produced 1.12 lakh tonnes of sugar compared to 4.31 lakh tonnes produced by 114 sugar mills on the corresponding period last year.

In Karnataka, 38 out of 65 sugar mills have commenced their crushing operations from November 15, against 30 sugar mills in the same period last year.
Till November 15, sugar production in the state was at 3.76 lakh tonnes against 1.60 lakh tonnes in the same period last year.
About 17 sugar mills in Gujarat have started crushing operations and have produced 62,000 tonnes of sugar compared to 16 mills in the state with 1.21 lakh tonnes till November 15, 2015.
In case of Tamil Nadu, 4 sugar mills were in operation as on November 15, and they have produced 30,000 tonnes compared to 40,000 tonnes produced by 6 mills in the same period last year.

Four mills in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana commenced their crushing producing 5,000 tonne of sugar till November 15, compared to 2 mills last year producing same amount during the same period.