Over 70.5 lakh tonnes (lt) of sugar have been produced till December 15 against 69 lt during the corresponding period of the previous sugar season (October-September), said the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).

Maharashtra, where 178 mills are in operation, produced 29 lt, which is 3.30 lt more than that in the same period last year. The average recovery rates of the mills are slightly higher this year at 10.18 per cent. Uttar Pradesh produced close to 19 lt, nearly 4.4 lt lower than the last season with 116 mills in operation.

The output is higher in Maharashtra and Karnataka as the mills there started early. But the final output in Maharashtra is expected to be lower due to deficit rainfall and white grub infestation in sugarcane.

Karnataka mills have produced 13.94 lt, which is higher by 2.7 lt. Gujarat mills have produced 3.1 lt. The total output of otherStates, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Bihar, is 4.5 lt.