According to the media reports, senior food ministry official said India’s sugar exports are likely to fall at around 8 million tonnes in the upcoming 2022-23 season due to expected lower opening stock and an increase in diversion of sugar for ethanol production.
Quoting a food ministry official, PTI report said whether to permit export under an open general licence or the prevailing quota system will be decided after assessing the price situation once the sugarcane crushing operation starts.
Stating that the sugar production for the 2022-23 season will remain same compared to the last season, Aditya Jhunjhunwala, president of the Indian Sugar Mills Association, in an interview with Zee Business, said, “Sugar production for the 2022-23 season is expected to be around 400 lakh tonnes, same as the previous season. Mainly due to two reasons sugar exports are expected to reduce in the upcoming season. About 45 lakh tonnes of sugar is expected to be diverted for ethanol next season against 34 lakh tonnes this season. In the upcoming season, opening stock is expected to be around 60 to 62 lakh tonnes against 80 lakh tonnes this season.”
“We will export sugar based on surplus stock available and this will not affect the domestic prices,” ISMA President further added.
