NEW DELHI: Sugar production in the country rose by 11 per cent to 53.29 lakh tonnes till December 15 in the 2016-17 season that started from October, but sales were down owing to demonetisation, industry body ISMA said today. Sugar output stood at 47.93 lakh tonnes in the same period last year, it said in a statement. The government has pegged the sugar output at 225.21 lakh tonnes for 2016-17 season (October-September). As per the latest data released by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), as many as 440 sugar mills were crushing cane till December 15 in the current season.
There was 11 per cent increase in the overall output in the said period on account of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, while the production in Maharashtra and other states remained lower, ISMA said.