Pune: India's 2018-19 season sugar production is set to increase by about 10%, according to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), a private sugar industry body. It expects sugar production to touch anywhere between 350 lakh tonnes and 355 lakh tonnes in 2018-19, from 322.5 lakh tonnes in 2017-18.

“This is about 28-33 lakh tonnes more than 2017-18 sugar season production of around 322.5 lakh tonnes. This is assuming that the rainfall is normal,” according to an ISMA release.

Based on satellite images received in the latter part of June 2018, total acreage under sugarcane is estimated to be around 54.35 lakh hectares in 2018-19, which is about 8% higher than 2017-18 sugar season’s cane area of around 50.42 lakh hectares. It is also noted that the area is almost similar to the area reported in 2013-14 and 2014-15, and slightly below 54 lakh hectare.