Coronavirus lockdown leaves a bitter taste for India's sugar industry

In this backdrop, the sugar mills are now pinning hopes on the prospective shipments to Indonesia to make up for the accumulating losses

The domestic sugar pipeline, pegged at almost 1.5 million tonnes (mt), has dried up even as the coronavirus disease (Covid-19)-induced lockdown continues to exert pressure on both demand and supply. 

The closure of restaurants, malls, and cinema halls has hit the offtake of sweetened products like ice cream, beverages, juices, confectionery, and sweets.

Besides, sugar exports have been affected because of the slump in global prices, although the recent depreciation of the rupee has provided some relief to exporters, according to the Indian Sugar Mill Association (ISMA). Mills are now pinning hopes on prospective shipments to Indonesia to make up for the