Sugar demand-supply would be comfortable in next season, says Centre

Sugar has a combined weight of 1.13 per cent in the consumer price index (CPI). This is lower than rice, wheat and refined edible oils

Though the situation is tight, senior government officials feel that India will have sufficient sugar stock to meet its domestic consumption requirements during the upcoming 2023-24 season if exports are curtailed.

The assessment is based on meetings with state sugarcane commissioners and feedback from the industry. It shows that consumption is projected to be around 28 million tonnes while production is expected to be at least 2-3 million tonnes more than this during the season, which starts from October.

“Though there are some concerns over the condition of the standing sugarcane crop in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the revival of rains