NEW DELHI: India is set to push Brazil to second position in sugar production during 2018-19 after 15 years. India’s sweetener production is estimated to touch 35.9 million tonnes (MTs), registering an increase of about 5.2% over last year, according to the latest report of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The report by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service wing released on Tuesday has estimated Brazil’s sugar production to dip by 8.3 MTs and bringing its total production to 30.6 MTs during this sugar year.

It says the 21% drop in sugar manufacturing is primarily “due to lower sugarcane yields and more sugarcane being diverted towards ethanol production as record global sugar supplies have led to weak prices”. The global production of the sweetener is also estimated to tumble to nearly 185.9 MTs, which is about nine million tonnes less than last year, mainly attributed to Brazil cutting down its sugar manufacturing. Attributing that the higher area and yields in India would boost the production of sugar in the country , the report said consumption is also forecast at a record 27.5 MTs due to a growing population and strong demand from food processors.