Increase in production cost, reduction in sugar prices increased pressure
Most sugar mills had reported healthy profits in the October-December quarter last year
Price of molasses has declined to Rs 900 a tonne in UP and Rs 2,200 a tonne in Maharashtra. At the peak last year, this was Rs 8,300 a tonne
Data from ISMA shows the average cost of sugar production in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra at Rs 37 a kg and Rs 34 a kg
Apathy delaying Uttar Pradesh sugarcane farmers payments
Early arrival of new season production has pushed sugar prices down, say mill owners.A note from Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) said sales in the festival months of September and October were around 4.1 million tonnes, compared to about 4.2 mt in the same two months last year. The M-30 variety is now selling here at Rs 3,772 a quintal, down 3.4 per cent from July's Rs 3,905 a qtl. Isma says the ex-mill price in Maharashtra is estimated at Rs 34-35 a kg and in Uttar Pradesh at Rs 352-36 a kg, against the all-India average cost of production of Rs 37.5 a kg. This, it complains, is putting pressure on mills' realisation. The Association estimates sugar production this season (it began on October 1, nearly 25 per cent higher than the one before, at 25.11 mt. Hence, it says, it has asked the government to withdraw the stock holding limit on traders with immediate effect. Else, it says, cash flow will be affected, affecting mills' capacity to pay cane farmers." The 2017-18 season's .
During the last season, 2016-17 droughts in some parts of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu led to less sugarcane output and hence, lower availability of ENA
Rise in cost production impacting profits
The state reported bumper sugar production at 8.2 million tonnes for 2016-17
The sugar prices had hit a three-months high in major mandis
Sugar mills had paid Rs 14,007 cr to farmers during corresponding period last year, says UP Minister
Global price crash makes raw sugar viable even at 40% duty, mills' supply glut due to cheap import
Out of 116 sugar mills, 56 have cleared all dues while there were no dues in case of 25 mills
Sugar prices have started rising but the industry is unable to make money
Improvement in recovery ratio seen, 100 mills start crushing operations in state against 50 units last year
This would be 25% more than the value of cane procured by the 117 sugar mills in UP in the 2015-16 crushing season
Rs 150 cr for farmers dues and Rs 225 cr to go to clear debt
3-month extension sought for adhering to new stock limit order from Centre
Mills can't hold more than 37% of total inventories as of Sept-end; limit would be 24% as of Oct 31
The mills said the abrupt withdrawal of the exemption would hurt their finances