Sugar production in the country is expected to be about 22.5 million tonnes (mt) by the end of the season, as per estimates of the Food Ministry, which ruled out any shortage of domestically produced sugar.

“During the current sugar season 2016-17, the sugar mills of the country have commenced the crushing operation smoothly and have produced about 66 lakh tonnes of sugar so far,” the Ministry said in a statement, adding that sugar production is expected to be about 22.5 million tonnes by the end of the season.

It said with a carryover stock of 7.71 mt, the total availability of sugar is sufficient to meet the estimated domestic requirement of about 25 mt.

According to the Ministry, the stock position at the close of the current sugar season (September 2017) is likely to be 5.21 mt, which will be carried forward for season 2017-18.

Further, production in the next sugar season (2017-18) is expected to be good and is likely to start early, it said, adding that “by November 2017, another 2 million tonnes would be available from early crushing.”