MEDIA RELEASE: SUGAR PRODUCTION UPTO 31ST MARCH 2015

• Sugar production in 2014-15 sugar season till 31^st March, 2015 was 247.20 lac tons, up 28.41 lac tons as compared to sugar produced during the corresponding period in 2013-14 SS.

• As on 31^st March, 2015, out of 530 sugar mills which were under operation during 2014-15 SS, 138 sugar mills have shut for the season and 392 are still working.  In 2013-14 SS, 316 sugar mills and in 2012-13 SS (when total sugar production was 263 lac tons) 231 mills were under operation on 31^st March. 

• Of the 138 closed sugar mills, 41 are in Uttar Pradesh, 36 are in Maharashtra, 26 in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana and 10 in Karnataka.

• In Maharashtra, sugar mills have produced 93.64 lac tons of sugar till 31^st March, 2015, as against 70.69 lac tons produced during the corresponding period last season.  As on 31^st March 2015, 142 sugar mills were under operation, as compared to 79 sugar mills in 2013-14 SS as on 31^st March last year.

• Sugar mills of Uttar Pradesh have produced 63.60 lac tons of sugar upto 31^st March 2015, which was 59.16 lac tons at the corresponding period last season.  As against 91 sugar mills operating last year at this time, 77 sugar mills are crushing sugarcane now.

• Sugar production in Karnataka till 31^st March, 2015 was 42.50 lac tons, as against 38.84 lac tons produced last season on the corresponding period.  Of the 64 sugar mills which crushed during 2014-15 SS, 54 are working as of now.   In 2013-14 sugar season, as on 31^st March, 2014, only 38 sugar mills were under operation.

• In Bihar, all the 11 sugar mills have produced 5.25 lac tons of sugar till 31^st March, 2015 and ended their crushing for 2014-15 season.  Last year, 10 sugar mills were in operation as on 31^st March 2014 and produced 5.12 lac tons till that date.

• Out of the 20 sugar mills which started crushing operations in Gujarat, 19 sugar mills are still under operation and sugar production so far in the State was 9.75 lac tons, as against 10.71 lac tons produced during the corresponding period last season.  Last year, 13 sugar mills were under operation on 31^st March 2014.

• In Tamil Nadu, sugar mills have produced 7.70 lac tons of sugar till 31^st March, 2015.  Out of the 44 sugar mills which operated, 4 have closed their operations for the season and remaining 40 are still running.  In 2013-14, sugar production in the State upto 31^st March was 9.26 lac tons and 29 mills were in operation.

• Till 31^st March 2015, sugar mills in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have produced 8.60 lac tons of sugar, as against 9.47 lac tons produced last season same period.  Out of 32 sugar mills which started crushing this season, 26 have closed their operations and the remaining 6 are running.  In 2013-14 SS, 12 sugar mills were closed as on 31^st March 2014.

• Sugar mills of Punjab and Haryana have produced 4.60 lac tons and 4.50 lac tons, respectively upto 31^st March, 2015 and there are 10 and 13 sugar mills in operation as on that date.  Last year, sugar production in these States upto 31^st March was 4.62 lac tons and 4.51 lac tons, respectively. 

• Despite Government’s assistance of Rs. 4000 per ton on raw sugar exports, due to drop in futures price for raw sugar in the New York market, which also one of the lowest in the last 7 years, not much sugar is getting exported.

• With the anticipated higher sugar production in the current season as against the estimated consumption of 248 lac tons, it is expected that sugar stocks at the end of 2014-15 season may surpass the normative requirement of 60 lac tons, by 25 lac tons more. 

• Cane price arrears across the country have reached an all time record level of Rs. 17000 crore and with the depressed ex-mill prices of Rs. 2100 to 2200 per quintal in Western & Southern States and Rs. 2300 to 2400 per quintal in Northern States, mills are not able to generate funds to pay even FRP to the sugarcane farmers.  The Government should come forward with some strategy to help the ailing sugar industry; otherwise it would become difficult for the mills to survive.