Large Sugar Crop

Stronger than expected sugar production is likely to keep Indian sugar imports below one million tonnes in 1997/98, French sugar intervention board FIRS said on Monday. Favourable weather conditions and a lower than expected diversion of sugar cane supplies to local gur and khansari production is expected to boost industrial Indian sugar production to over 12 million tonnes (white value) in 1997/98, FIRS said in its February report. "If this is the case, imports are unlikely to reach the one million tonne figure that has been forecast until now," it said.