Sugar production has gradually gained momentum, with supply of cane intensifying in the major producing states. The sugar season runs from October 1 to September 30.

In November, total output was 56 per cent higher from a year before, to 1.78 million tonnes (mt) as compared with 1.14 mt in the corresponding month last year, showed data compiled by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).

As of end-November, 297 mills had commenced crushing for the current season, as against 262 mills in operation on the corresponding day last year. Since 509 mills were reported in operation during the 2013-14 crushing season, a little over 200 mills have not yet started crushing.

In Maharashtra, as against 119 mills which had begun crushing by November 30 last year, with an output of 0.54 mt of sugar, 148 mills had produced 1.05 mt this year. In Uttar Pradesh, of 124 mills in the state, 60 have begun crushing operations. Mills there usually start only in the latter part of November and only 0.12 mt of sugar was reported till then. In the corresponding period last year, 24 mills had started crushing.

In Karnataka, 0.34 mt of sugar had been produced till the November-end, almost similar to the amount last year in this time. Last year, 54 mills were crushing by the time; it was 31 sugar mills this year. There was a long standoff between mills and farmers in the state this year, resolved by government intervention only lately

With mills having 7.5 mt of stocks as on October 1, ex-mill prices have fallen to the lowest level in two years.