2018-19 Sugar Production Set To Reach Record High Of 33 Million Tonnes; Government Encourages Increased Exports

India is all set to achieve an all-time record sugar production of 33 million tonnes in the ongoing marketing year that began on October 2018, the industry body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said on Friday (3 April 2019), reports Mint.

The nation’s net sugar output during 2017-18 marketing year was in itself a record production as the output had reached 32.5 million tonnes. This year, the production having already reached 32.11 million tonnes, only 100 mills remained operational on 30 April 2019 according to ISMA.

Meanwhile, the industry body also highlighted that the sugar output is likely to decline in the 2019-20 marketing year, given the body expects the lower sugarcane output due to lesser rains in key states like Maharashtra. Further decline is expected out of the sugarcane diversion for production of ethanol.

Also, to prevent the glut in the market which could lead to severe price downfall, the government has been aggressively pushing the sugar producers to export more of their output, given the domestic demand for sugar stands at only 26 million tonnes.