According to the ISMA, 406 sugar mills were crushing sugarcane as on December 15, as against 473 mills on the year-ago same day.
Union minister Danve Raosaheb Dadarao said sugar mills were advised to export sugar as per their MIEQ (Minimum Indicative Export Quota) allocation
Millers have accused ISMA of overstating last year's production and delaying the decision on imports
Production down 9%, as drought hits cane harvest in many parts of the country