Sugar production touched 13.75 million tonnes (mt) in the first three months of the 2012-13 crushing season starting October.

This is about 2.95 per cent more than the corresponding last year, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said on Monday.

ISMA recently revised upwards its forecast 2012-13 season by three lakh tonnes at 24.3 million tonnes on better recovery and lesser sugar cane diversion to other sweeteners.

Maharashtra has produced 4.82 mt of the sweetener so far, marginally higher than corresponding last year.

However, sugar recovery in the State is marginally lower at 10.82 per cent. Maharashtra is expected to produce 6.8 mt this year.

Uttar Pradesh, which will emerge as the largest producer this year, has so far produced 3.62 mt, marginally lower than last year. Sugar recovery is marginally higher in the State, which is expected to produce 8 mt in the current season.

Karnataka has so far produced 2.4 mt, about 11 per cent more than corresponding last year. The State is expected to produce 3.2 mt.

Similarly, Andhra Pradesh has produce 5.85 lakh tonnes, about 5 per cent more.

Tamil Nadu has produced 6.25 lakh tonnes, about 9 per cent more than last year. However, the recovery has been marginally lower due to the poor North East monsoon. Tamil Nadu is expected to produce 2.2 mt this season.

>Vishwanath.kulkarni@thehindu.co.in

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