• Sugar mills are urging the central government to lift the ban on sugar exports and ease restrictions on ethanol production for the 2024-25 season. This measure aims to prevent a decline in sugar prices and ensure the commodity remains available in the market.
• This request follows the production of 110 lakh tonnes of sugar by 207 mills in Maharashtra during the 2023-24 season, up from 105 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 season. The crushing season, which began on November 1 last year, concluded on Thursday (May 16) in Maharashtra.
• Although experts had predicted a 15 lakh tonne drop in sugar cane production for the 2022-23 season, untimely rains in the sugar cane belt from October to December led to increased production. The sugar recovery rate rose to 10.27% in the 2023-24 season from 9.98% in the 2022-23 season.
• Mills crushed 1,073 lakh tonnes of sugar cane in the 2023-24 season, compared to 1,055 lakh tonnes in the 2022-23 season.
• Industry leaders noted that the central government was concerned about a potential sugar production shortfall due to the export ban and ethanol production restrictions. Consequently, the government has set an ethanol blending target for the 2024-25 season to ensure adequate sugar supply in the market and maintain stable prices during the election period.

 

Source: Times of India