Sugar production up 29.8% till Dec 15, 2017 of current sugar season

Sugar production up 29.8% till Dec 15, 2017 of current sugar season

Sugar production in the country till December 15, 2017 of current 2017-18 sugar seasons stood at 69.40 lakh tonne, a growth of 29.8% or 15.94 lakh tonne from 53.46 lakh tonne of sugar in the corresponding previous period. Increased production was largely due to crushing by more sugar plants compared to corresponding previous period. As on 15th December, 2017, 469 sugar mills were crushing sugarcane for the year 2017-18 SS against 449 mills last year same time.

Sugar production in current sugar season i.e. till Dec 15, 2017 of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (UP) jumped up by 48% and 32% respectively to 25.50 lakh tonne and 23.37 lakh tonne compared to corresponding previous period. The sugar production of Karnataka and Gujarat was higher by 5% and 10% respectively to 11.50 lakh tonne and 2.75 lakh tonne till Dec 15, 2017 of current sugar season. While the sugar production of Andhra Pradesh was flat at 1 lakh tonne that of Tamil Nadu were lower by 5% to Rs 0.75 lakh tonne.

While sharp jump in sugar production of Maharashtra was facilitated by more mills under crushing that is about 176 mills compared to 144 mills in the corresponding previous period but the strong jump in sugar production of UP was not because of more mills with mills under crushing compared to corresponding previous period remain largely same at 116 mills compared to 115 mills.

ISMA estimates a normal sugar production of 251 lakh tonne in 2017-18 SS as compared to a very low production of only 203 lakh tons last year. The higher sugar production trend upto 15th December 2017 is totally as expected and estimated. ISMA expects sugar production of Maharashtra and UP for current sugar year to be at around 74 lakh tone (up from 42 lakh ton in last sugar year) and 101.5 lakh tonne (up from 88 lakh tonne in last sugar year).

Source: business-standard:Published on 2017-12-19