Sugar mills in Marathwada region of Maharashtra have claimed that  they have been able to convince the state government to permit factories to export only 12% of their current year’s production as against the norm set by the Centre for 12% of the average of the last three years’ production of the sweetener, top officials of Western India Sugar Mills Association (WISMA) said.

The international sentiments on Tuesday improved to $378-380 per tonne while the spot markets improved by R20-25 per quintal  and futures improved by R40 per quintal on the back of the stern warning issued by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to factories to fulfil their export quota on Monday.

WISMA president BB Thombre said that a meeting called by the CM on Monday had gone off well with mills agreeing to export their mandated quota. However, millers from Marathwada, which has been struck by drought,  sought concessions, he said. “Both the chief minister and former Union minister Sharad Pawar have been very receptive and agreed to take up this issue at the Centre,” he said.

Thombre was confident that the Centre would also be receptive to the demands of the mills in the drought-struck region of the state.

Sugar exports from the country had slowed down with the international rates of the sweetener dropping to $375-385 per tonne from around $425 10 days ago.