India's total sugar production would be around 30.7 MT in 2018-19

Sugar production in the country has increased by 7.73 per cent year-on-year to 21.93 million tonnes till February 15 but overall output at the end of the season would be lower than the previous year, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said on Wednesday. Total sugar production in the country would be around 30.7 million tonnes in 2018-19 as against 32.25 million tonnes in 2017-18.

In a statement, the ISMA, which represents private sugar mills, said Uttar Pradesh has produced 6.39 million tonnes of sugar till February 15 - 0.77 per cent more compared to corresponding period last year. However, total production will be less than last year due to lower yield per hectare. Maharashtra has produced 8.29 million tonnes till February 15 compared to 7.47 million tonnes on the corresponding date last season. In Maharashtra too, the total production will be low this year as mills are expected to close earlier than last year.

Another major sugar producing state, Karnataka, has produced 3.87 million tonnes so far. The industry body said sugar production as on February 15 was 0.35 million tonne in Tamil Nadu, 0.49 million tonnes in Bihar, 0.45 million tonnes in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, 0.21 million tonnes in Punjab, 0.37 million tonnes in Haryana, 0.21 million tonnes in Uttarakhand and 0.3 million tonnes in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

It said the government's decision to increase the minimum selling price of sugar last week from Rs 29 per kg to Rs 31 per kg will generate additional revenue for the sugar mills and help them in payment of cane price arrears.