INDIA’S sugar production increased 42 per cent year-on-year during October-December period at 110.22 lakh tonne on higher cane output and an early start of mills in Maharashtra, according to trade data. Sugar marketing year runs from October to September. Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement that mills produced 110.22 lakh tonne of sugar during October-December period of 2020-21 sugar marketing year as against 77.63 lakh tonne in the corresponding period of the previous year.

 

In Maharashtra, sugar production stood at 39.86 lakh tonne during the period under review as against 16.50 lakh tonne in the year-ago period. Sugar output in Uttar Pradesh rose marginally at 33.66 lakh tonne from 33.16 lakh tonne. Around 10 lakh tonne of sugar export contracts are said to have been entered into by now and sugar has already started moving for exports. The Government has set a target of 60 lakh tonne of sugar exports during the 2020-21 marketing year, ending September, to liquidate surplus stock.

 

On the sugar export subsidy, ISMA said: “Considering that the world sugar prices were better in December 2020 as compared to what it was in September 2019, when the Government had announced last year’s export programme for 2019-20, the export subsidy for the sugar exports has been restricted by the Government at Rs 6,000 per tonne.” However, it said the actual expenses incurred on internal transport, ocean freight and marketing and promotion charges are much higher.