ISMA revises sugar output estimate to 340 LT from 330.5 LT; 255.5 LT produced till Feb

Sugar production in the country till February 29, 2024, was around 255.5 lakh tonnes (net sugar after diversion) with 466 sugar mills still operating in the country.

This was disclosed at the executive committee meeting of the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), having sugar producers from across the country, in its meeting held on March 12, 2024, ISMA said in a pressnote.

The Committee discussed the sugar recovery, cane yield, remaining harvestable area/sugarcane and expected dates of closure of factories in different states, and agreed that the sugarcane availability in Maharashtra and Karnataka is higher than what was expected earlier.

However, cane availability in another major state Uttar Pradesh is predicted to be lower than earlier estimates.

Accordingly, ISMA has revised its all-India sugar production estimate for 2023-24 Sugar Season (before diversion into ethanol) as 340 lakh tonnes, against its earlier estimate of 330.5 lakh tonnes released in January, 2024.

In the current season, rate of closure of mills in Maharashtra and Karnataka is slower than last year, indicating that tail of the season could be longer this year in these states.