Domestic sugar production, opening stock expected to be higher next season

With the malls and restaurants being allowed to open under unlock 1.0, the sugar demand will further rise.

Expectations of a robust sugar output and a higher-than-expected opening stock for the next crushing season (October 2020-September 2021) are huge, despite the domestic crushing season nearing its end with just a few mills operational.

According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma), the closing balance at the end of current sugar season (2019-20), earlier estimated to be 10 million tonne (mt), may be higher at 11.5 mt on account of higher-than-projected production. “There has been much talk about cane availability and higher sugar production for the next season. Isma will obtain satellite images of the sugarcane area across the country,