Sugar production in the country by 488 mills stood at 110.90 lakh tonnes up to January 15, up by 7.08 lakh tonnes compared to the corresponding date last year, when output by 494 sugar mills was 103.82 lakh tonnes.
So far, sugar mills have contracted for export of 9 lakh tonne of the sweetener against 80 per cent of the minimum quota of 32 lakh tonnes fixed by Centre, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA). About 7 lakh tonne of sugar has already been moved from mills for exports, it added.
Compared to the 2014-15 sugar season, production in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra in the current season till January 15,was higher by 3.4 lakh tonnes, 2 lakh tonnes and 1 lakh tonne, respectively.
So far, 168 mills in Maharashtra have crushed about 415.9 lakh tonnes of cane, producing 44 lakh tonnes of sugar, ISMA said in a statement.
In Uttar Pradesh, 116 mills in operation produced 27.07 lakh tonnes till January 15.
Karnataka produced 21.12 lakh tonnes till January 15, with 64 mills in operation.
In Tamil Nadu, 25 mills in operation produced 1.60 lakh tonnes.
Gujarat has produced 5.70 lakh tonnes, with 20 mills in operation.
Mills in Bihar have produced 2.20 lakh tonnes, 1.05 lakh tonnes in Uttarakhand, 1.70 lakh tonne in Punjab, 1.60 lakh tonnes in Haryana and 1.40 lakh tonnes in Madhya Pradesh.