NEW DELHI – Production of sugar in India in 2019-20 (Oct-Sep) is expected to fall more than 15% on year to 27.5-28.0 mln tn as erratic rains are seen lowering cane output in Maharashtra and Karnataka, a senior government official said.
India produced a record 33.13 mln tn sugar in 2018-19, outstripping Brazil as the world's largest sugar producer.
"Due to drought in Maharashtra and south Karnataka last year, and floods in last two months (in Maharashtra), cane area decreased and hence sugar production (is also expected to fall)," the official said after a meeting of state cane commissioners.
The sugar directorate at the Centre had today called a meeting with state cane commissioners to discuss production estimates for 2019-20.
Production of sugar in Maharashtra, the second largest sugar producer in the country, is seen falling sharply to 5.83 mln tn in 2019-20, nearly half of 10.7 mln tn produced last season, and acreage under cane is expected to decline by over 29% to 822,000 ha, a state government official said.
In the new crushing season that started Oct 1, only 165 sugar mills are expected to crush cane in Maharashtra, as against 195 last year, the official said.
In Karnataka, the third largest producer of sugar, output in 2019-20 is seen falling over 21% from last season to 3.5 mln tn, according to data given by the state's officials.
Uttar Pradesh is seen producing 12.54 mln tn sugar in 2019-20, compared with 11.86 mln tn in the season ended Monday, according to state government's estimate. Acreage under cane is seen at 2.68 mln ha, 7.4% higher than last season's 2.49 mln ha.
High yielding varieties of sugarcane and a rise in acreage are seen pushing sugar output higher in the state, an official said.
India's sugar production estimate for 2019-20, compiled by the central government from estimates given by states, is higher than the industry estimate of 27 mln tn.
The sugar directorate has asked states to review their production estimates again and send final numbers before it releases the official production estimate, as officials from some major sugar producing states were absent from today's meeting.
The following table shows sugar output estimates for 2019-20 given by states, in tn, and the year-on-year change in percentage terms: