Sugar production till December-end in the current 2013-14 season stood at 57.39 lakh tonnes (lt), some 29 per cent lower than 80.32 lt during the same period a year ago.
The lower output, so far, is mainly on account of delayed start of crushing operations by mills due to the sugarcane pricing issues. About 476 mills have started crushing operations in the current season that began in October, against 499 in the corresponding period last season, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA). Total sugar production in the country is expected to be 250 lt in this season.
Maharashtra, one of the top sugar-producing State, has so far, produced 22.14 lt against 29.07 lt last year. About 154 mills have started crushing operations against 161 mills in the western State. Uttar Pradesh has so far produced 11.3 lt, some 42 per cent lower.
In Karnataka, the output is estimated at 12 lt, 26 per cent lower than last year.
In Andhra Pradesh, the output is lower by 18 per cent at 2.52 lt, while in Tamil Nadu production is down 58 per cent at 1.5 lt.
ISMA said sugar output in Tamil Nadu is expected to be lower than last year due to the lower cane availability.
With Tamil Nadu announcing unreasonably higher cane price, it remains to be seen how it impacts cane crushing further in the State, ISMA said.