Cooperatives physique raises India’s sugar output estimate, seeks leisure on ethanol curbs

Cooperative sugar business physique Nationwide Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) has raised the present season’s sugar manufacturing estimate to 30.5 million tonnes (mt) from 29.15 mt it estimated earlier after the present season’s manufacturing deficit narrowed to lower than 8 per cent as of December 31. Till December 15, the deficit was over 9 per cent. NFCSF expects additional enchancment in restoration.

Releasing the replace on sugar manufacturing, Prakash Naiknavare, Managing Director of NFCSF, stated: “Because the estimated 29 mt of sugar manufacturing originally of the season is predicted to extend by about 1.5 mt, the present restrictions on ethanol manufacturing could also be relaxed to some extent.” He stated NFCSF together with Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Producers Affiliation (ISMA) will collectively take up the problem with the Authorities.

Yield could rise

In keeping with NFCSF knowledge, 511 factories have crushed 122.26 mt of sugarcane and produced 11.21 mt of sugar with the typical sugar restoration at 9.17 per cent between October and December within the 2023-24 season. Within the corresponding interval a yr in the past, 514 mills had crushed 132.06 mt of sugarcane and produced 12.14 mt of sugar with common sugar restoration at 9.19 per cent.

Because the winter will increase, sugar yield is predicted to extend additional, stated Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar, president of NFCSF. Because the Union Authorities has restricted the manufacturing of ethanol from sugarcane juice, the overall availability of sugar within the nation for native consumption is predicted to be larger than preliminary evaluation, stated Dandegaonkar.

In Uttar Pradesh, 120 factories have crushed 35.91 mt of sugarcane and produced 3.47 mt of sugar with 9.65 per cent common restoration throughout October -December whereas 117 factories had crushed 34.22 mt of sugarcane and produced 3.08 mt of sugar with 9 per cent restoration.

Greater than anticipated

Alternatively, in Maharashtra as many as 195 sugar mills have crushed 42.68 mt of sugarcane and produced 3.82 mt of sugar with 8.95 per cent restoration towards 201 sugar factories had crushed 50.43 mt of sugarcane to supply 4.74 mt of sugar with 9.40 per cent restoration.

Karnataka, the third largest producer after UP and Maharashtra, has reported 73 factories in operation till December 31 and have crushed 26.37 mt of cane, producing 2.4 mt of sugar, with 9.10 per cent restoration. A yr in the past, the identical variety of factories in Karnataka had crushed 28.71 mt of cane, producing 2.67 mt of sugar, with 9.30 per cent restoration.

In keeping with NFCSF, Uttar Pradesh is predicted to supply 11.5 mt of sugar (towards 11 mt estimated earlier), Maharashtra 9 mt (8.5 mt), Karnataka 4.2 mt (3.8 mt), Tamil Nadu 1.2 mt (1.2 mt) and Gujarat 1 mt (1 mt).