Export of sugar in the current sugar season 2021-22 was 15 times more than season 2017-18 with Indonesia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, Malaysia and African countries being the major importers, said the food ministry on Thursday. 
Contracts for about 9 MT have been signed to export sugar in current sugar season 2021-22. This is without announcement of any export subsidy. Around 7. 5 MT have been exported till May 18. 
In sugar season 2017-18, 0. 6 MT sugar was exported, in 2018-19, 3. 8 MT and in 201920, 5. 6 MT was exported. 
"In sugar season 2020-21 against target of 6 MT, about7 MT have been exported. About ₹14,456 crore released to sugar mills in past five years to facilitate export of sugar and ₹2,000 crore as carrying cost for maintaining buffer stock, " the ministry said. 
Supply of ethanol to oil marketing companies rose
from 38 crore litres with blending levels of only 1. 53% in ethanol supply year (ESY) 2013-14 to about 302. 30 crore ltrs of ethanol, achieving 8. 1% blending levels in2020-2021. 
"In the current ESY 2021-22, about 186 cr ltrs ethanol have been blended with petrol till 08. 05. 2022 thereby achieving 9. 90% blending. It is expected that in current ethanol supply year 2021-22, we will be achieving 10% blending target, " the ministry added.