Despite lockdown, sugar mills contract for 4.2 million tonnes of exports

3.6 MT shipped by mills so far; Indonesia, Iran major offshore destinations

Domestic sugar mills had bagged export contracts totalling 4.2 million tonnes (mt) till the beginning of May, despite the lockdown and falling sugar demand.

Citing market sources and millers, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) said that nearly 3.6 mt had been dispatched so far. 

The export orders have been signed for different destinations, with major quantities headed to Indonesia and Iran. According to Isma, shipments are expected to normalise soon. 

With the Centre nudging mills to divert excess sugarcane and sugar for production of fuel-grade ethanol as a long-term solution to the excess sugar stock, Isma said the augmentation in ethanol capacity