November 17, 2016 (Sugaronline) | https://goo.gl/BpmCQU
Indian sugar mills have produced 15,000 tonnes of sugar more till November 15 this year in comparison to the corresponding period last season, with now Uttar Pradesh taking the lead from its arch rival Maharashtra in the production field, according to the Press Trust of India newspaper.
Altogether 222 sugar mills have started crushing till now as against 175 in 2015/16 season same time last year and they have produced 787,000 tonnes of sugar, as against 772,000 tonnes produced last year up to the corresponding period.
This season the production is on the higher side mainly because sugar mills in UP and Karnataka have started earlier than their usual time.
According to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) statement here today, sugar mills in UP have advanced commencement of their crushing operations this season by a fortnight or so, as compared to 2015/16 season. Altogether 55 sugar mills have been working and they have produced 193,000 tonnes till November 15, as compared to 15,000 tonnes produced last year same period when only six mills were operational.
In case of Maharashtra, sugar mills in the state started operations on or after November 5, whereas in 2015/16 season sugar mills started their crushing operations in October itself.
Of the total 95 sugar mills in operation, they have produced 112,000 tonnes of sugar as compared to 431,000 tonnes produced by 114 sugar mills last year on the corresponding date.
This season UP could be the largest producer of sugar in the country pushing aside Maharastra where the due to natural calamity there were loss in cane production.
In Karnataka, 38 out of 65 sugar mills have commenced crushing operations as on November 15, 2016 as against 30 sugar mills which operated last year on the corresponding date. Sugar production in the State was 376,000 tonnes this season so far, as against 160,000 tonnes of sugar production on November 15 last year.
Altogether 17 sugar mills in Gujarat have started crushing operations and have produced 62,000 tonnes of sugar. Last year, 16 mills were in operation in the State and had produced 121,000 tonnes of sugar till November 15, 2015.
In case of Tamil Nadu, four sugar mills were in operation and they have produced 30,000 tonnes as on that date, as compared to 40,000 tonnes produced by six mills up to November 15, 2015.
Four mills in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana started their crushing and have produced 5,000 tonnes of sugar till November 15, 2016. Last year 2 sugar mills were in operation and had produced same amount of sugar till November 15, 2015.
Six sugar mills in Madhya Pradesh and two sugar mills in Uttarakhand have also started crushing and their sugar output is negligible.
Meanwhile ISMA said sugar prices have been flat in the last few months. In fact, the ex-mill prices had fallen by a rupee or two sometime back which is now being seen in the retail prices too.
The government has also given out its sugar production estimates at 22.5 million tonnes for 2016/17 season, and has said that there will be enough sugar for domestic requirement and yet leave good carry forward stocks of 4.7 million tonnes for 2017/18 sugar season, adding that with around 2 million tonnes of sugar production in October November, 2017, the 4.7 million tonnes of opening balance is adequate for domestic needs.