The executive Committee of Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), having sugar producers from across the country, in its meeting held on 12th March, 2024 noted that the sugar production in the country upto 29th February, 2024 was around 255.5 lakh tonnes (net sugar after diversion) with 466 sugar mills still operating in the country.
The Committee discussed the sugar recovery, cane yield, remaining harvestable area / sugarcane and expected dates of closure of factories in different States, and agreed that the sugarcane availability in Maharashtra and Karnataka is higher than what was expected earlier. However, cane availability in another major state Uttar Pradesh is predicted to be lower than earlier estimates.
Accordingly, ISMA has revised its all-India sugar production estimate for 2023-24 Sugar Season (before diversion into ethanol) as 340 lakh tonnes, against its earlier estimate of 330.5 lakh tonnes released in January, 2024.
In the current season, rate of closure of mills in Maharashtra and Karnataka is slower than last year, indicating that tail of the season could be longer this year in these states.
