India’s sugar manufacturing fell by 15.6 per cent to 95.40 lakh tonnes (lt) within the first quarter of the continued season that began from October 1, 2024, in opposition to 113.01 lt within the year-ago interval as there was a drop in output in just a few States and better diversion in direction of ethanol, in keeping with trade physique ISMA.
“The distinction in web sugar manufacturing could be collectively attributed to larger sugar diversion in direction of ethanol this yr (estimated as 40 lt for whole season in opposition to 21.5 lt in 2023-24 season) and late begin of sugar mills in Maharashtra and Karnataka,” Indian Sugar and Bio-Vitality Producers Affiliation (ISMA) stated in a press release.
There have been 493 working factories throughout October-December in opposition to 512 factories which operated on the corresponding interval in 2023, it stated releasing the fortnightly replace.
Crushing charge higher
Although crushing charge within the main States of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka is reportedly higher than final yr, there was some short-term disruption throughout final week of December in Uttar Pradesh resulting from rains-induced delay in cane provide from farmers’ subject to mills.
Sugar manufacturing in Uttar Pradesh, the nation’s largest producer, declined to 32.80 lt within the first quarter from 34.35 lt within the year-ago interval, whereas in Maharashtra, the nation’s second-largest producer, the output dipped to 30 lt from 38.20 lt year-ago. Sugar manufacturing in Karnataka too fell to twenty.40 lt from 24.91 lt.
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ISMA stated that it might launch its second advance estimates of sugar manufacturing by January-end. Within the first estimate, ISMA has projected sugar output in whole yr will probably be 333 lt, together with the amount to be diverted for ethanol.
The trade physique has projected home sugar consumption to be decrease at 280 lt within the 2024-25 season from 291 lt in 2023-24.
“On the consumption aspect, it’s famous that the home gross sales quota for the primary 4 months of this yr is 7 lt decrease in comparison with the identical interval final yr. Moreover, through the earlier yr, the next gross sales quota was launched resulting from elevated demand through the common elections (April-June 2024),” it stated, including the common home consumption is prone to be about 23.5 lt per thirty days.
The allocation of sugar for open market gross sales through the first 4 months (October-January) of the present sugar season is 92 lt. So, as per ISMA’s calculation, the doubtless launch throughout February-September could also be about 188 lt.
