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Sugar production in the country touched 221.8 lakh tonnes (lt) as of March 15 – some 14.4 per cent higher than the same period last season (October-September), according to the latest data released by the Indian Sugar Mils Association (ISMA).
The number of sugar mills operating during the period was also higher at 476 compared with 409.
Of these, 43 mills have stopped operations – 17 are in Uttar Pradesh, 7 in Maharashtra and 11 in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, an ISMA statement said on Tuesday.
Big threeIn Maharashtra, the country’s largest sugar producing State, 170 mills produced 84.07 lt compared with 64.1 lt from 111 mills last year.
In Uttar Pradesh, 101 mills produced 56.25 lt compared with 50.70 lt produced by 113 mills. Output in Karnataka is pegged at 38 lt (34.5 lt).
Other producersThe total output across other sugar producing States such as Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is pegged at 43.47 lt against 44.5 lt last year.
Buffer stocks“With higher estimations…by the Government, the industry has requested for creation of 20 lt of buffer stocks. It will help with cash flows to carry the extra sugar and will check distress sales by some mills,” the statement said, adding that that the 20 lt could be used by the Government next season for PDS requirements.
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