Triggered by a sharp decline in cane output in Maharashtra and Karnataka, sugar production in India is likely to decline by 7 per cent in the crushing season 2016-17, the apex industry body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) forecast in its first advanced estimates on Wednesday.
With carry over stock of 7.5 million tonnes from SS 2015-16 and expected sugar production of 23.4 million tonnes in SS 2016-17, there will be enough sugar available in SS 2016-17 to meet the domestic demand of about 25.6 million tonnes (considering a demand growth 2.5 per cent) in the next season. There will thus be carry forward stocks of around 5.2 million tonnes for SS 2017-18sugar season.