PRESS RELEASE
Crushing operations for the current 2016-17 SS have been started, about 15 in the first fortnight of October and another 13 in the second fortnight of October, 2016. In all, 28 mills have started crushing as on 31st October, 2016, as against 65 in 2015-16 SS same time. Till 31st October 2016, sugar mills have produced 1.04 lac tons of sugar, as against 1.87 lac tons produced last year upto the corresponding period.
In Karnataka, 19 sugar mills have started their crushing operations in October’16 as against 12 operated last year on the corresponding date. As on 31st October, 2016, sugar production in the State was 69,000 tons, which is 12,000 tons lower than the sugar produced during the same period last season.
In case of Tamil Nadu, 4 sugar mills were in operation as on 31st October, 2016 and sugar production was 20,000 tons, as compared to 31,000 tons produced by 8 mills in 2015-16 SS upto 31st October, 2015.
Three mills in Uttar Pradesh have also started crushing from second fortnight of October’16 and these mills estimated to have produced 12,000 tons upto 31st October, 2016. During 2015-16 SS, only one mill in U.P. was in operation in October’15 and its production was negligible.
Apart from the above, one sugar mill each in Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have started their operations and these two mills’ estimated sugar production are at 3,000 tons.
During 2015-16 SS, 14 sugar mills in Gujarat and 30 mills in Maharashtra operated in the month of October, 2015. However, during 2016-17 SS, Maharashtra mills delayed their starting so as to get the cane matured further to get better sugar recovery from standing cane. These mills are now expected to start crushing from 5th November, 2016. Similarly, Gujarat mills are expected to start this week.
With the carry over stock of 77 lac tons as on 1st October 2016 and estimated sugar production of 234 lac tons, total sugar available in the country during 2016-17 SS would be around 311 lac tons, against the estimated consumption of 255 lac tons. Thus, closing stock at the end of the season is expected at 56 lac tons, which would be sufficient to meet 2 ½ months consumption in the initial period of 2017-18 SS.