As the 2012-13 cane crushing season comes to an end, about 45 sugar mills were still operational against 100 last year.
The sugar mills have crushed 243 mt cane with an average recovery of 10.09 per cent, about 0.17 points lower than last year, the Indian Sugar Mills Association said a statement.
One of the largest sugar producing States - Maharashtra - has produced 7.97 mt sweetener, about 10 per cent lower than last year. The State has crushed 69.9 mt cane and the recovery was 11.40 per cent.
About four mills, two each in Satara and Nagpur districts, were still operational against more than 40 than last year.
In Uttar Pradesh, about nine mills were still operational and the State has produced 7.43 mt sugar with a marginally better recovery of 9.19 per cent.
Sugar production in the State was up seven per cent, with mills in Western and Central UP reporting better recoveries.
In Karnataka, the crushing has ended and production was down by a tenth at 3.36 mt against last year’s 3.72 mt.
In Tamil Nadu, 29 mills were still operational against 41 in the corresponding last year. Till date, Tamil Nadu has produced 1.57 mt, about one per cent lower than last year. Andhra Pradesh has produced 9.9 lakh tonnes of sugar, against 1.11 mt last year.
Despite the marginal dip in output, the sugar prices continue to remain bearish on ample supplies.
On the NCDEX, the near month contract for May 20 ended marginally lower at Rs 2,929 a quintal on Friday.