New Delhi: India’s new sugar season, albeit late, has finally started. Up till now, total 28 sugar mills have cumulatively crushed 14.50 Lakh Tons sugarcane and have produced 1.25 Lakh Tons new sugar at an average recovery of 8.67%. Among the 19 cane growing States, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have taken lead. In Karnataka State, 9 sugar mills have crushed 6.67 Lakh Tons sugarcane and have produced 60,000 Tons new sugar at an average recovery of 9% followed by Uttar Pradesh where 13 mills have crushed 1.88 Lakh Tons sugarcane and have produced 15,000 Tons new sugar at an average recovery of 8%. In the Southern States of Tamil Nadu, 6 mills have crushed 5.88 Lakh Tons sugarcane and have already produced 50,000 Tons new sugar at an average recovery of 8.5%. This up-dated crushing report is released by National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd. (NFCSF) Vide a Press Note.
The normal sugar season is expected to start on 1st October with crushing in Maharashtra and Karnataka, However, this time round the cane crushing in Maharashtra, the second largest sugar producing state, has been delayed due to onslaught of retreat-rains, which has left sugarcane fields water logged, prohibiting commencement of cane cutting operation. Subject to another stormy weather not hitting Maharashtra in the next couple of days, the cane crushing may start by 3rd / 4th week of November, 2019. Similarly, the sugar season in the States of Gujarat and other remaining States too is expected to commence in the 3rd / 4th week of November, 2019.
“Due to reduction of area under sugarcane and expected drop in cane productivity, the cumulative annual new sugar production during 2019-20 is estimated to be limited to 260-265 Lakh Tons as against last year’s record sugar production of 331 Lakh Tons which is almost a reduction of 70 Lakh Tons”; say Mr. Dilip Walse Patil, President, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.
“After two year’s of consecutive record sugar production, the current year’s expected correction in sugar production, augmented capacity of ethanol production subsuming certain quantity of sugar, record MAEQ of 60 Lakh Tons for export would result in stabilizing domestic ex-mill sugar realization helping sugar sector to improve their financial health during the current year”; hopes Mr. Prakash Naiknavare, Managing Director, National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.
