Sugar production in the country has increased at a faster rate than last year. In the first seven fortnights of sugar season 2015-16 (October 2015 to September 2016), 488 mills in the country have produced 11.09 million tonnes of sugar.

This is 708,000 tonnes, or seven per cent, higher than the production by 494 mills in the corresponding year-ago period, Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) said in a note.

Increase in production is due to higher crushing in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra by 340,000 tonnes, 200,000 tonnes and 100,000 tonnes, respectively, compared to last year.

Isma said, “Most of the sugar mills in Maharashtra will close earlier this year as compared to last season, mainly because of lower cane production therein.”

Maharashtra has crushed 42 million tonnes of sugarcane with 168 sugar mills and produced 4.4 million tonnes of sugar with 10.6 per cent recovery. In Uttar Pradesh, 116 sugar mills have produced 2.7 million tonnes of sugar so far.

“Sugar mills have contracted for export of 900,000 tonnes of sugar against 80 per cent of MIEQ (minimum indicative export quota) - that is, 3.2 million tonnes fixed by the Government of India. Against this, 700,000 tonnes of sugar have been moved from sugar mills for exports,” said ISMA.