Sugar output still shows effect of late crushing

India’s sugar output had fallen eight per cent this season until Saturday, compared to a year before, due to the earlier delay in commencing of cane crushing.

Data from the Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) showed 19.4 million tonnes of output till last Saturday, compared with 21.1 mt in the corresponding period last year. Isma lowered its production forecast for this season by five per cent to 23.8 mt, as compared to 25.1 mt in the previous one.

Operational sugar mills have recently intensified crushing, resulting in an improvement from the deficit of 11 per cent in the output till a fortnight earlier. Isma says 428 mills remain operational, as compared to 362 mills at the same time last year.