New Delhi: According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), Indonesia and Afghanistan have emerged as major sugar importers from India for this season (October 2020 to September 2021).
According to the ISMA, as per market reports and port information, about 29.72 lakh tonnes of sugar have been physically exported out of the country during October,2020 – March,2021 period, as compared to about 30.64 lakh tonnes exported in the last sugar year during the same period. However, current year exports also include about 4.48 lakh tonnes of sugar exported under MAEQ of 2019-20 season which was extended upto 31st December, 2020. During the current year, one encouraging factor is that the mills have physically exported more than 25 lakh tonnes in the first three months after announcement of MAEQ export policy for 2020-21 season on 31st December,2020, including about 12 lakh tonnes in the month of March, 2021 itself. This is almost 42% of the 60 lakh tonnes of export quota for the current year. It is also reported that about 8 lakh tonnes of sugar is in pipeline for export in April, 2021.
India’s major sugar importers last year were Iran and Afghanistan. With currency restrictions this year, India’s export to Iran was affected.
Indonesia was importing sugar from Thailand but with less sugar production from Thailand, India’s export to Indonesia has picked up.
ISMA stated that the sugar output in India till April 15 has reached 290.91 lakh tonne as against 248.25 lakh tonnes during the same period last season.
