Sugar production up 2.5% in first three months of the season

Number of operational mills registered a decline to 496 units, down by 2.4% of 12 units compared to 508 units in the same period last year

Despite fewer mills started crushing of cane, sugar output registered 2.5 per cent growth in the first three months of the season beginning October 1, 2012.

Data compiled by the apex trade body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) showed that sugar production was up by 0.2 million tonnes to 7.96 million tonnes until December 31, 2013 compared to 7.76 million tonnes by the same time last year.

During the same period, however, number of operational mills registered a decline to 496 units, down by 2.4 per cent of 12 units compared to 508 units in the same period last year.

 

“This necessarily means, the operational mills crushed more cane across the country,” said an ISMA official.

Operational mills crushed more than 83.4 million tonnes of cane in the first three months of the current sugar season in comparison with 82.36 million tonnes in the same period last year.

Although, the crushing season begins with harvesting of cane on October 1, sugar mills commence crushing only in mid-November as a normal practice.

Uttar Pradesh reported a total production of 1.93 million tonnes of sugar output with at 8.74 per cent of recovery. The sugar production in the state works out to about 11 per cent less than the last year with around same recovery level. Initial pace in recovery gain has been lost due to arrival of stale sugarcane from farmer’s field. Moreover, farmers are in hurry to sow wheat by clearing their sugarcane raton fields. Till date, 121 sugar mills were operational in the state, lower by 1 from the same time last year.

Maharashtra posted total sugar production at 2.91 million tonnes, about 4 per cent higher than last year due to early commencement of cane crushing and higher capacity utilization. Till date, 161 sugar mills are operational in the state down by 6 sugar mills. The recovery from sugarcane was same as that of last year at 10.46 per cent. The reason for slowing pace in recovery revival over last year in Maharashtra is because of partially dry cane arrival to sugar mills. ISMA has projected 6.5 million tonnes of sugar production in the state.

In Karnataka, the sweetener production was 17 per cent higher at 1.55 million tonnes with around same number of operational sugar mills at 56. This year to date, recovery is slightly better at 9.87 per cent compared to 9.3 per cent in the same period last year.

ISMA estimated sugar production at 24 million tonnes this season, over 2 million tonnes lower than the last year’s output at 26 million tonnes.