India sugar output forecast to drop to lowest in seven years

By Rajendra Jadhav

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's sugar production may fall to 21.3 million tonnes for the 2016/17 crop year, the lowest in seven years and 9 percent lower than previously forecast, as drought has curtailed cane supplies in key producing states, a trade body said on Wednesday.

The production drop could lift local prices and prompt the world's biggest sugar consumer to allow duty-free imports of the sweetener, supporting global prices that are trading near their highest level in one-and-a-half months.

Sugar mills in the top producing state of Maharashtra and the third-biggest producing state of Karnataka are closing earlier than initial expectations, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.

As of January 15, Indian mills have produced 10.5 million tonnes of sugar, down 5.3 percent compared to the same period a year ago.

"Sugar mills, in the drought affected areas, have started closing down, the difference from last year will be higher as the season progresses," the trade body said.

Sugar mills typically operate between November and April, but this year mills have stopped crushing as back-to-back droughts cut cane supplies.

On Tuesday, a government official said the country could produce 22.5 million tonnes of sugar during the 2016/17 season that started on Oct. 1.

But traders said production could fall below 20.5 million tonnes in the current season.

"The government's and ISMA's production estimates are optimistic. The way sugar factories are closing in Maharashtra, I don't think it can produce more than 4.5 million tonnes," said a Mumbai-based dealer with global trading firm.

Maharashtra produced 8.41 million tonnes of sugar in the 2015/16 season, while India's total output was 25.1 million tonnes. India's demand is pegged around 25 million tonnes.

"In summer months prices will rise due to lower production. It may then force government to allow duty-free imports," said a New Delhi-based trader with global trading firm.

But the ISMA said there is no need to import the sweetener as stockpiles are ample and production is expected to jump in the next season.

India started the 2016/17 season with carry-forward stocks of 7.75 million tonnes, the ISMA said. That is down from 10.2 million tonnes the year before though higher than the typical level of about 6 million.

"Sugar production in Maharashtra and Karnataka in the next season should be back to normal. Therefore, there will be surplus sugar production as compared to domestic requirement in 2017/18 season," it said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)