Sugar Mills

Sugar mills pay Rs 8,126 cr to farmers in first 70 days of season

Sugar mills have paid Rs 8,126 crore to sugarcane farmers in the first 70 days of the ongoing 2024-25 sugar season, Food Minister Pralhad Joshi told Parliament on Wednesday. As of December 13, the total cane price payable stood at Rs 11,141 crore, Joshi said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Pending payments of Rs 3,015 crore remain, with Karnataka accounting for the maximum outstanding dues of Rs 1,405 crore, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. The sugar season in India runs from October to September. Joshi attributed the reduction in sugarcane arrears to ongoing policy interventions. In the previous 2023-24 season, out of total cane dues of Rs 1,11,674 crore, approximately Rs 1,10,399 crore has been paid, leaving only Rs 1,275 crore outstanding as of December 13 - effectively clearing 99 per cent of the dues.

India sugar prices hit 18-month low, mills struggle to make cane payments

The fall in prices is prompting industry to demand immediate revision in minimum selling price (MSP) to limit losses, which will improve mills' margins and allow them to make timely cane payments

Govt allows sugar mills to use cane juice for ethanol production from Nov

he world's second-biggest sugar producer imposed restrictions on diverting sugar for ethanol production in December 2023 to increase sugar output after cane crop was hit by below-average monsoon rains

Amit Shah urges sugar mills to diversify ethanol, biofuel production

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Saturday called on sugar mills to explore alternatives to sugarcane for ethanol production, pushing for a multi-dimensional approach to biofuel manufacturing. Speaking at an event organized by the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF), Shah said India would achieve its 20 per cent ethanol blending target by 2025-26, ahead of the original 2030 deadline. The minister highlighted that the government's ethanol blending programme has helped reduce the country's crude oil import bill and address environmental concerns. "You need to be futuristic and look at opportunities and expand. Ethanol can be made from multiple sources," Shah said, urging cooperative sugar mills to shed their "orthodox" approach and explore alternative feedstocks such as maize and bamboo. Shah said about 1,000 crore litres of ethanol is required for blending, and the necessary infrastructure to achieve this target is in place. He emphasised the need for sugar m

Modi govt working to restart 14 sugar mills that were closed: Bihar Dy CM

Choudhary alleged that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav was only bothered about his family

Sugar mills paid Rs 78,000 cr to farmers in first half of 2023-24 season

Sugar mills have paid Rs 78,000 crore to sugarcane farmers in the first six months (October-March) of the current marketing season, a food ministry official said on Wednesday. Sugar marketing season runs from October to September. While the season is still on, the mills have cleared 87 per cent of the total cane payment of Rs 90,000 crore till March 31 of the 2023-24 season, the official said. Mills have produced more than 300 lakh tonne of sugar so far this season. "Against the total cane payment of Rs 90,000 crore for October-March period of 2023-24 season, mills have already cleared Rs 78,000 crore," the official told PTI. Cane payments are made as per the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of Rs 315 per quintal fixed by the Centre for the 2023-24 marketing season, depending on the recovery rate. The official also said that sugar mills have cleared 99.7 per cent of the total Rs 1.15 lakh crore cane dues of the 2022-23 season. Cane dues prior to 2022-23 seasons have been almost

ISMA revises upwards estimates of gross sugar output to 34 mn tonnes

Sugar industry body ISMA on Wednesday revised its estimates for gross production of the sweetener by 9.5 lakh tonnes to 340 lakh tonnes in the marketing year ending September. In January, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) had projected the gross sugar production, without any diversion for ethanol, at 330.5 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 marketing year (October-September). In a statement, ISMA said the gross sugar production is now estimated at 340 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, as against the gross output of 366.2 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The executive Committee of ISMA in its meeting held on March 12, noted the sugar recovery, cane yield, remaining harvestable area / sugarcane and expected dates of closure of factories in different States. The panel agreed that sugarcane availability in Maharashtra and Karnataka is higher than expected. However, cane availability in another major state, Uttar Pradesh, is predicted to be lower than earlier estimates. "Accordingly, ISMA has revised

India sugar crop woes create opportunity for Dubai's Al Khaleej refinery

Al Ghurair said India had stopped exporting because of bad weather and this had created more demand, at least temporarily

Govt offers one-time settlement option to sugar mills for SDF loans

To provide relief to sugar mills, the government has come out with revised guidelines for loans taken under the Sugar Development Fund (SDF), giving factories option of debt restructuring and also a one-time settlement. As on January 31, sugar mills have an outstanding loans of Rs 3,730.15 crore under different schemes, of which, penal interest is about Rs 939.87 crore, according to official data. Issuing the revised operational guidelines for restructuring of SDF loans on February 28, the food ministry said, "Restructuring of the SDF loans would be in the form of capitalisation of balance interest, along with principle and re-schedulement," it said. In case of restructuring, the penal interest will be waived off, it said. Under the restructuring option, the government has offered a moratorium period of 24 months for payment of balance principal amount and interest amount. However, normal interest will continue to accrue during the moratorium period. "Balance loan amount, includi

Sugar mills to sell potassium from molasses at Rs 4,263 per tonne: Govt

Sugar mills will sell potassium derived from molasses, called PDM, at Rs 4,263 per tonne to fertiliser companies in the current year, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday. The mutually agreed rate was facilitated by the food and fertiliser ministries, he said. PDM, a potassium-rich fertilizer derived from ash in molasses-based distilleries, is a by-product of the sugar-based ethanol industry. Briefing the media, the Secretary said, "India depends on imports for potash. This will augment potash availability in the country. This is a win-win for all stakeholders." This decision was pending for a long time due to the lack of understanding between fertiliser companies and sugar mills. Finally, they have come to an agreement on the price, he said. The Secretary further noted that PDM manufacturers can also claim a subsidy at Rs 345 per tonne under the Nutrients-Based Subsidy Scheme (NBS) of the Department of Fertilizers. Now, both sugar mills and fertilizer companies are ...

Productivity of sugar mills increased, over 99% cane dues cleared: Goyal

Over 99 per cent sugar cane dues to farmers in the country have been cleared by mills which amounts to over Rs 1.14 lakh crore out of the Rs 1.15 lakh crore outstanding, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He also said that now only Rs 516 crore outstanding is due with regards to three sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh against whom action is being taken. Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce, Industry, Consumer Affairs and food, said in 2013-14, Rs 57,000 crore had been given to farmers as sugar cane price. Cane price dues used to be given to farmers after two-three years. However, in 2022-23, cane production increased by one-and-a-half times and cane dues stood at Rs 1,15,000 crore. "Of this, Rs 1,14,000 crore has been paid to farmers on time which is more than 99 per cent," he said, inviting a sharp response from some opposition members who claimed the figures were not correct. The minister said productivity of the mills has increased, cooperative mills have .

Three killed, five injured in boiler blast at sugar mill in UP's Sitapur

A senior official said the blast was caused by vapour build-up in the boiler's fermentation chamber

India to allow diversion of up to 1.7 million tons of sugar for ethanol

"A quota will soon be allocated for sugar mills and distilleries," said a senior government official, who preferred not to be named, following official rules

Government allows cane juice, B-molasses to make ethanol in 2023-24

The government on Friday allowed sugar mills to use both cane juice and B-heavy molasses to produce ethanol but capped the diversion of sugar for the purpose at 17 lakh tonnes for the ongoing 2023-24 supply year. The latest decision comes a week after the government prohibited the use of sugarcane juice and sugar syrup for making ethanol, amid the industry seeking reversal of the decision. "The flexibility has been given to sugar mills for using both sugarcane juice and B-heavy within an overall cap of 17 lakh tonnes of diversion of sugar for making ethanol in the ongoing 2023-24 supply year (November-October)," Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra told PTI. A committee of ministers took the decision during its meeting on Friday, he said. The decision has been taken amid representation received from the industry to review the December 7 order that banned use of cane juice and sugar syrup with immediate effect. It, however, had allowed supply of ethanol from existing offers received by Oi

Rs 15K cr at risk due to sudden ban on cane juice for making ethanol: ISMA

Industry body ISMA on Friday said the "sudden" ban on the use of cane juice for ethanol will have an adverse impact on capacity utilisation of mills, putting at "risk" their Rs 15,000 crore investment in the last three years to set up plants for green fuel. It also fears that there could be a delay in payments to sugarcane farmers. The Centre recently banned use of cane juice for ethanol in view of likely drop in sugar production during 2023-24 marketing year (October-September). Indian Sugar Mills' Association (ISMA) demanded that the government revise soon the prices of ethanol made from B-heavy and C-heavy mollases, a by-product of sugar, to improve the financial health of the millers. "The sudden ban on use of sugar cane juice/syrup for ethanol in 2023-24 supply year with immediate effect, is a big deterrent for the sugar industry," ISMA President Aditya Jhunjhunwala said at its 89th annual general meeting. The ban has put the industry in a difficult situation, he said, and ur

'Sugar output may remain subdued, mills prefer sugar over ethanol'

Due to below-average rainfall in the sugarcane-growing areas this year, the sugar output is likely to remain subdued, but the mills in Maharashtra are keen on using the crop to produce the sweetener more than diverting it to manufacture ethanol, a top official said on Wednesday. Maharashtra produced a good amount of sugar in the past two years. But there was below-normal rainfall this year in sugar-producing areas, the official of Sugar Commissionerate told PTI. "The rainfall this time was less, hence the sugarcane production in the state will also remain low...During a meeting held with the stakeholders of sugar mills, they made this year's trend clear. As sugar is fetching good rates this year, the mills are keen on producing sugar. Hence, molasses diverted to make ethanol could be used to produce sugar this year," the official said. The sugar commissionerate had earlier predicted that in the 2023-24 sugar manufacturing season, 1,022 lakh metric tonnes of sugarcane will be ...

Sugar mills float various options to beat a challenging 2023-24 season

The production in the 2023-24 sugar season, according to the current emerging consensus, is expected to be somewhere around 30-31 million tonnes

Sugar outlook turn sweeter on prospects of higher prices due to less rain

Sugar is the most highly controlled commodity in the Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) basket

Sugar mills lay down plan for 50% ethanol blending with petrol by 2030

The plan envisages a cumulative investment of Rs 50,000 crore in ramping up distillation capacity

Sugar mills urge govt for exemption from jute bags packaging rules

The request for relaxation has been made due to the increased cost associated with the use of jute bags, as well as the operational challenges they present