The country’s sugar production has increased by 14 per cent to 21.2 million tonnes till March 15 in the current marketing year that started October last year, according to industry data. Sugar production in India, the world's second-largest producer and biggest consumer, stood at 18.6 million tonnes in the year-ago period, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) said in a statement on Monday.
“Isma still maintains that the production will be 26 million tonnes in the current season,” it added. The food ministry has pegged output at about 25.2 million tonnes for the 2011-12 marketing year. Maharashtra, the country’s largest producing state, had 7.3 million tonnes till March 15, which is 13 per cent higher than last year. Sugar production of Uttar Pradesh is also up by about 13 per cent to 6 million tonnes. The southern states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have also reported higher output of 3.2 million tonnes and 1.08 million tonnes, respectively.
