Id: 111 Name: Media Release - Sugar Production figure upto 15th March, 2014 Venue: New Delhi Date: 15 Mar 2014 Event Pdf: Till 15th March, 2014, the country has produced 193.8 lakh tons of sugar. The gap between this year’s sugar production as compared to last year, during same corresponding period, has been now narrowed down to 17.4 lakh tons. Last year till 15th March, 2013, the sugar production was 211 lakh tons. A fortnight back i.e. upto 28th February, 2014, this was 11% lower, which has now reduced to 8% lower.  In its second advance estimates, ISMA has estimated 238 lakh tons of sugar production, which will be 5% less than last year’s actual sugar production of 251 lakh tons, for the full season. About 428 sugar mills are still crushing sugarcane as on 15th March, 2014, against 362 mills during same corresponding period last year. Maharashtra has produced 64.10 lakh tons of sugar at an average of 11.2% sugar recovery. Last year, during same period, sugar mills in the state had produced 72.3 lakh tons of sugar at 11.25% of recovery. Till 15th March, 2014, about 40 sugar mills, out of the total 157 which operated during the current season, have closed for the season i.e. 117 are still crushing cane. However, during same period last year, 97 mills were operational, out of total 170 sugar mills which operated in SS 2012-13. Uttar Pradesh, which has produced 50.7 lakh tons at an average of 9.11% of sugar recovery till 15th March, 2014, is now trailing by 8 lakh tons against last year’s sugar production. Last year, during same corresponding period, UP sugar mills had produced about 58.98 lakh tons of sugar with 9.05% of recovery.  About 115 mills are still under operation against 113, during same period last year. Karnataka has produced 34.50 lakh tons of sugar, which is about 8% higher than last year. About 51 sugar mills are still crushing, against 23 sugar mills operational during same period last year. Gujarat has produced 9.70 lakh tons of sugar against 9.91 lakh tons during same period last year, while, Tamil Nadu produced 8 lakh tons against 11.5 lakh tons of sugar production same period last year. Andhra Pradesh has produced 8.8 lakh tons, which is about 4% less than last year. Till 28th Feb 2014, total production of raw sugar was around 11 lakh tons since 1st October, 2013 i.e. in SS 2013-14. About 6 lakh tons of raw sugar has been exported along with 5.2 lakh tons of whites, till 28th Feb, 2014. From Oct, 2013- till end of Feb, 2014, about 100 lakh tons of sugar has been dispatched by sugar mills for sale in the domestic market, as compared to 96 lakh tonnes of sugar despatched during the same period last year.