India’s sugar production rose 14 per cent in the first four months of the current crushing season (November 2014 to October 2015), the Indian Sugar Mills Association said in a statement.

Between November 2014 and February 2015, the 511 operational mills produced 19.4 million tonnes (mt) of sugar — 2.36 mt higher than the 17.04 mt produced by 455 mills in the year-ago period.

Mills in Uttar Pradesh reported sugar output at 4.96 mt by the end of February 2015, compared to 4.34 mt a year ago. Three out of 118 operational crushing units declared closure for the current season.

In Maharashtra, 177 sugar mills produced 7.4 mt during the period under review, a significant rise of 29 per cent from 5.75 mt from 129 mills in the previous year.