As of 15 May 2022, 382.91 lakh tonnes (lt) of sugar has been produced in the current season. The net sugar production without diversion into ethanol is higher by 58.07 lt as compared to last year, i.e., higher by about 18 per cent. This was stated in a press release issued by the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).
However, in terms of actual sugar produced after considering diversion for production of ethanol, the difference in sugar production is about 44.06 lt, owing to a higher estimated sugar diversion by about 14 lt into ethanol this year. The sugar diversion into ethanol is 34 lt this year compared to 20 lt last year. Thus, the sugar production after diversion is 348.83 lt this year compared to 304.77 lt last year.
The sugar production in Maharashtra has been much higher this year as compared to last year. As of May 15 this year, 146.72 lt of sugar has been produced compared to 113.28 lt in the year-ago period. The production in Uttar Pradesh (UP) has gone down — from 115.60 lt last year to 113.95 lt this year.
In the current season, 521 mills operated against 506 last season. As of 15 May 2022, 405 mills had closed their crushing operations while 116 sugar mills were still operating in the country. However, in the last season 2020-21, 461 mills had closed their crushing operations and only 45 mills were operating on the corresponding date. Most of the operating factories are expected to close by the end of this month. However, a few mills may operate till the first fortnight of June 2022.
However, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have a special season also, which commences in June/July and runs up to September. Last year both these states collectively produced 4.36 lt of sugar in the special season.
As per port information and market reports, over 85 lt of contracts for the export of sugar have already been entered into so far. Out of this, around 71 lt of sugar have been physically exported out of the country till the end of April 2022. Compared to this, 43.19 lt of sugar was exported during the corresponding period last year. Further, it is also reported that another 8-10 lt of sugar is in the pipeline to be physically exported in May 2022. ISMA expects over 90 lt of export in the current season against 71.91 lt exported in the last season.
Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its statement has said that the Southwest monsoon has advanced further into parts of the South Bay of Bengal, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Andaman Sea. Accordingly, conditions are favourable for its further advancement. The agency had earlier predicted a normal Southwest monsoon for India this year.