Sugar

Concerns about low output behind the uptick; retail prices may remain flat

The government is unlikely to permit additional sugar exports this year as untimely rains have impacted the production in Maharashtra, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday. The food ministry has allowed 6 million tonnes of sugar exports for the current 2022-23 marketing year (October-September). Out of which, about 4 million tonnes have been exported so far, as per the trade report. "We have a sugar production target of 38.6 million tonnes (including diversion for ethanol). Maybe production will go down by 2-3 lakh tonnes due to unseasonal rains in Maharashtra," Chopra told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference here. In view of likely fall in sugar output, the Secretary said, "Additional sugar export quota is unlikely to be allowed." Sugar production in India, the world's second largest sugar producing nation after Brazil, remained lower by three per cent at 29.96 million tonnes in the first six months of the 2022-23 marketing year ending September, as per the

Sugar mills in Maharashtra were operational until mid-June in 2021/22 as they harvested a record crop

The country's sugar output remained marginally lower at 28.18 million tonne till March 15 of the ongoing marketing year, industry body ISMA said on Friday. Sugar production stood at 28.45 million tonne in the same period of the 2021-22 marketing year. The sugar marketing year runs from October to September. According to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), around 336 sugar factories were in operation in the period under review against 438 factories in the year-ago period. After diversion for ethanol production, the country's sugar production was 28.18 million tonne during October-March 15 of the ongoing 2022-23 marketing year, the industry body said in a statement. The output in Maharashtra -- the country's leading producer of the sweetener -- remained lower at 10.19 million tonne during October-March 15 of the ongoing marketing year compared to 10.90 million tonne in the year-ago period. The production in Karnataka too, the country's third largest sugar-producing state, s

India, the world's second largest sugar producing nation after Brazil, has a cushion to export an additional 1 million tonnes of the sweetener if the domestic output reaches an estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year, a senior food ministry official said on Monday. The government will take a call next month on allowing more quantities of sugar exports, after assessing domestic production, he said. Sugar availability is comfortable in the country and as a result wholesale and retail prices of the sweetener are on a decline in the last one month. The food ministry has allowed 6 million tonnes of sugar exports for the current 2022-23 marketing year (October-September). India exported a record 11 million tonnes of sugar in the previous year. "More exports are possible and we have a cushion for exports of additional one million tonnes, suppose the overall production reaches the estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year," the official said. Sugar production has already reached 24.7 milli

The government on Wednesday approved the extension of mandatory packaging norms which provide for all foodgrains and 20 per cent sugar to be compulsorily packed in jute bags, sources said. The reservation norms for mandatory use of jute in packaging for Jute Year 2022-23 (July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023) were cleared at a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The mandatory packaging norms approved for Jute Year 2022-23 provide for 100 per cent reservation of foodgrains and 20 per cent reservation of sugar to be compulsorily packed in jute bags, the sources said. The approval to these norms will provide relief to 3.7 lakh workers employed in jute mills and ancillary units as well as support the livelihood of several lakh farm families, they added. It will also help protect environment because jute is a natural, bio- degradable, renewable and reusable fibre and hence fulfils all sustainability parameters. The jute industry is significant to India's econ

The sugar production in Maharashtra may go down from 137.28 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 to 124 lakh tonnes in 2022-23 due to adverse climatic conditions in different parts of the state, a top official said on Saturday. Continuous rains rendered the ground wet for long periods, which impacted sugarcane cultivation, Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad told PTI. "As a result, the production will be going down in Maharashtra in the ongoing season. Earlier, we estimated production of 138 lakh tonnes when the crushing season started. Now it should be around 124 lakh tonnes. We have conveyed the updated figures of production to Central government," he said. "The crushing season will be over early when compared to last year. In the last crushing season, the factories worked till the start of monsoon. Now, it will work till April end. A total of 199 factories are currently operational in the state," he added. The crushing in Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur districts will be over by March end and by Apri

The country's sugar production rose 3.42 per cent to 193.5 lakh tonnes in the first four months of the ongoing marketing year ending September, on rise in output in key producing states, industry body ISMA said on Thursday. Sugar production stood at 187.1 lakh tonnes during October-January period of the previous marketing year. Sugar marketing year runs from October to September. India is a major sugar producing country in the world. Releasing the latest production figures, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said around 520 mills were operating as on January 31, as against 510 mills in the year-ago period. Total sugar production, after diversion for ethanol manufacturing, has increased to 193.5 lakh tonnes till January of the current marketing year from 187.1 lakh tonnes in the year-ago period, it said. Sugar production in Maharashtra, the country's leading producing state of the sweetener, rose to 73.8 lakh tonnes during October-January of the ongoing marketing year from 7

Sugar sector's success has environmental risks

Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday assured leaders from Maharashtra that the Centre would soon increase the export quota sugar and take steps to help the ailing sugar industry in the state. Shah gave the assurance during a meeting with Maharashtra BJP leaders, who also have stakes in the sugar cooperatives sector. The state leaders were part of a delegation led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis. "The export quota (for sugar) has been exhausted. Since Maharashtra is a coastal state, we can export sugar through our ports. The minister also took a constructive approach on the issue and assured us to increase the quota or take an appropriate decision in this regard," Fadnavis told reporters here. The meeting was attended by BJP leaders Raosaheb Patil Danve, Pankaja Munde, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Harshvardhan Patil, and Dhananjay Mahadik, among others. Shinde said the delegation apprised Shah about the difficulties faced by the

Over 1,000 crore litres of ethanol would be required to achieve 20 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol, he said, adding that out of that around 50 per cent will come from sugarcane

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Globally, supply is expected to ease as output in Brazil and Thailand, both major producers, is likely to revive

India has exported 5.62 lakh tonne of sugar so far in the current 2022-23 marketing year that began in October, trade body AISTA said on Tuesday. In November, the government allowed the export of 60 lakh tonne of sugar in the current (2022-23) marketing year (October-September). According to the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA), the dispatches for exports from sugar mills were at 12.19 lakh tonne, out of which physical shipment completed stood at 5.62 lakh tonne till December 9 of the current marketing year. A maximum of sugar has been exported to the UAE, followed by Bangladesh, Indonesia, Somalia and others in the said period, it said in a statement. About 5.22 lakh tonne of sugar is under loading or waiting for loading, it added. India exported a record 111 lakh tonnes of sugar in the 2021-22 marketing year.

Sugar production has increased 5 per cent to 82.1 lakh tonnes between October 1 and December 15 period of this marketing year, while mills have contracted to export 45-50 lakh tonnes of sweetener, industry body ISMA said on Monday. Sugar marketing year runs from October to September. The production of sugar stood at 77.9 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the 2021-22 marketing year. "As per port information and market reports, about 45-50 lakh tonnes of contracts for export of sugar have already been entered into so far. Out of that, about 6 lakh tonnes of sugar have been physically exported out of the country up to 30th November," Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement. Market reports suggest that another 8-9 lakh tonnes of sugar is in pipeline to be exported in December, thereby total exports by the end of this month could be around 15 lakh tonnes. India exported a record 111 lakh tonnes of sugar in 2021-22 marketing year. In November, the government

The government may consider increasing sugar export quota for the current 2022-23 marketing year after assessing the domestic production in January. In November, the government allowed export of 60 lakh tonnes of sugar for the 2022-23 marketing year (October-September). India exported a record 111 lakh tonnes of sugar in 2021-22 marketing year. On being asked if the government will consider increasing export quota, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said the ministry will assess the domestic production of sugar in January and then decide whether to raise the quota or not. The food secretary was speaking on the sidelines of Annual General Meeting (AGM) of industry body ISMA. Addressing the AGM, Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) President Aditya Jhunjhunwala hoped that the government will increase the export quota from the current 60 lakh tonnes. "We are grateful that exports are allowed with the option provided to sugar mills to exchange their export quota with domestic sugar sale

Industry players said the prime reason for a slight drop in output is due to the fact that the sugarcane crushing season started late

India has entered into a contract for export of about 35 lakh tonnes of sugar so far in the ongoing 2022-23 season, out of which 2,00,000 tonnes have been shipped last month, industry body ISMA said on Thursday. The 2022-23 sugar export policy announced on November 5 allowed exports of 60 lakh tonnes of the sweetener on a quota-basis till May 31. Further quantities for export would be allowed after assessing the domestic production. Sugar season begins from October to September. According to Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), "As per port information and market reports, about 35 lakh tonnes of contracts for export of sugar have already been entered into so far." Out of this, about 2,00,000 tonnes sugar have been physically exported out of the country in October, when compared to about 4,00,000 tonnes in the corresponding month last year, it said in a statement. ISMA noted several traders entered into export contracts for the 2022-23 season much before the export policy was ...

The government on Wednesday notified exports of 8,606 tonnes of raw cane sugar under the tariff-rate quota (TRQ) scheme to the US. Shipments under the TRQ enjoy relatively low customs duty. After the quota is reached, a higher tariff applies on additional imports. "The quantity of 5841 MT (raw/refined) sugar to be exported to EU and quantity of 8606 MTRV raw cane sugar to be exported to USA under TRQ scheme from October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023 has been notified," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a public notice. India, the world's second biggest producer and the largest consumer of sugar, has a preferential quota arrangement for sugar export with the European Union as well. The DGFT said that the quota will be operated by APEDA.