Sugar output down 2% at 24.1 mn tons so far in 2012-13

NEW DELHI: Sugar output has come down by 2 per cent to 24.1 million tonnes so far in the current marketing year due to lower recovery of the sweetener in some states, an industry body ISMA said today.

Sugarcane crushing operation for the 2012-13 marketing year (September-October) is slowly coming to an end. Top producing states Maharasthra and Uttar Pradesh -- are likely to shut down their operations by month-end, it said.

According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), mills have produced 24.1 million tonnes (MT) of sugar till April 15 of the current year, two per cent less from 24.57 MT in the same period last year.

Barring Uttar Pradesh, sugar output in Maharashtra and Karnataka remained lower so far, it said, adding that mills across the country have crushed 240 MT of cane till date and sugar recovery was less at 10.11 per cent.

As of now, only 131 mills are in operation, as against 169 mills in the year-ago period. Operations in Karnataka and Gujarat are already closed, it added.

Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh, the country's second biggest sugar producing state, rose by five per cent to 7.29 MT so far boosted by higher recovery at 9.19 per cent.

The sugar recovery was higher in Western and Central Uttar Pradesh, while slighly down in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, it said, adding that only 60 mills are in operation now.

However sugar output in Maharashtra, the country's largest sugar producing state, remained less by seven per cent at 7.91 MT till April 15 of the current year on lower recovery at 11.38 per cent. Only 18 millers are crushing and they may shut down the operation by month-end.

Karnataka, where curshing operations have already close for this year, has produced 3.33 MT of sugar, down 10 per cent from over the year. Sugar recovery was down at 10.44 per cent.

Gujarat has also almost closed crushing for this year and has produced 1.13 MT of sugar.