India's sugar production up 10.4% so far this season

Mumbai: Indian mills produced 26.18 million metric ​tons of sugar ​between October 1 and March ​15, up 10.4% from the previous year, as higher output from the country's top three producing states lifted production, ‌a leading industry ⁠body ⁠said on Monday.

Sugar production in the western state ​of Maharashtra increased to 9.85 million tons from 7.86 million ​tons, while neighbouring Karnataka saw a 17.1% jump to 4.58 million tons, the National Federation of ​Cooperative Sugar Factories said.

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In the ⁠northern state ‌of Uttar Pradesh, production ​rose marginally to ​8.15 million tons from 8.1 ⁠million tons, the federation said in a statement.

So ​far, 333 of the 533 sugar ​mills that began the season have closed operations, it added.

India is likely to produce 28.3 million tons of sugar in the current season ending in September, down from ‌an earlier estimate of 29.6 million tons, the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) said earlier this month.

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Mills exported ⁠315,577 tons of sugar between October and February, mainly to the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Tanzania and ​Sri Lanka, the AISTA said in a statement on Monday.

India has allowed the export of 2 million tons of sugar in the current marketing year ending in September.