Sugar output seen falling to 31.5 mn tonnes in 2018-19, lower than 2017-18

Closing stock at the end of the year will still be very high despite improvement in exports

Contrary to earlier estimates of sugar production reaching to 35 million tonnes in 2018-19 (October to September) sugar season, the industry now estimates output to be around 31.5 million tonnes, which is even lower than 32.5 million tonnes produced in the 2017-18 season which ended last month. While this is a welcome development, the hangover of high closing stock remains.

Indian Sugar Mills’ Association said on Monday, “Sugar production during the current 2018-19 SS is estimated to be lower considering the adverse impact of weather and rainfall in the three largest sugarcane producing States of UP, Maharashtra and Karnataka and