ISMA ups sugar output estimate to 24.3m tonne for 2012-13

Industry body ISMA today said it has revised the country's total sugar output marginally upward to 24.3 million tonnes for the 2012-13 marketing year, which started from October, due to less diversion of sugarcane to local sweeteners and better recoveries.

However, sugar production will still be lower than 26 million tonnes achieved in 2011-12 but sufficient to meet the domestic demand of 22 million tonnes.
    
"ISMA has revised the sugar production estimates for 2012-13 on account of lesser sugarcane diversion to local sweeteners and better recoveries," Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.

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At the beginning of the current marketing year, ISMA had pegged sugar production at 24 million tonnes.
    
As per revised estimates, production in Uttar Pradesh,Maharasthra and Karnataka - the country's top three leading sugar producing states - is estimated to rise marginally to 8.1 million tonne, 6.8 million tonne and 3.2 million tonne respectively this year.
    
Earlier, the sugar output estimate stood at 7.9 million tonne for Uttar Pradesh, 6.5 million tonne for Maharasthra and 3 million tonne for Karnataka.
    
ISMA's latest estimate is slightly higher than the government's projection of 24 million tonne for the same period. The government has also revised its sugar production forecast for 2012-13 from 23.5 to 24 million tonne.

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According to ISMA, sugar production in the first four months of the current year has increased by 3 per cent to 13.75 million tonnes due to better recoveries and less diversion of sugarcane to local sweeteners units.
    
Despite fewer number of mills under operation, production has increased so far because of better crushing capacities and capacity utilisation. A total of 510 mills were in operation, 15 lower than the year-ago period, it added.
    
During October-January period, Maharashtra has produced 4.82 million tonne sugar, Uttar Pradesh (3.63 million tonne), Karnataka (2.4 million tonne), Tamil Nadu (6,25,000 tonne) and Andhra Pradesh (5,85,000 tonne).
    
The pace of sugar production in the first fortnight of January remained lower than the year-ago period, ISMA said.