INDIA: 2009/10 sugar production up 3.5% through February
Published: 03/03/2010, 9:27:13 AM
India's sugar output in the first five months of the season that began last October rose 3.5% to 11.9 million metric tonnes, helped by better recovery from cane, according to Reuters.
The country had produced 11.5 million tonnes of the sweetener between Oct. 1 and Feb. 28, industry sources said.
Sugar output in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the second-biggest producer, was lower in the beginning of the season but has recovered slightly, the officials, who did not wish to be named, said.
"Although production has gone up from a year, a clear picture will emerge only by March-end when we will be able to gauge the impact on imports," one of the officials told Reuters.
Millers say lower diversion of sugarcane for alternative sweetener such as jaggery also boosted sugar output.
"Demand for jaggery has fallen sharply. As a result, 60% of cane output is going to sugar production against 45%-50% a year ago," said Sunil Kakria, managing director of Mawana Sugar.