Ram Gopal Yadav

India is likely to witness surplus sugar production during the next two years on account of a bumper sugarcane crop. According to OP Dhanuka, CMD, Riga Sugar Company Ltd, production of sugar in 2017-18 marketing year (October-September) is likely to be close to 25.5 million tonnes (mt), a growth of 25 per cent over last year on higher sugarcane area. The country’s annual consumption is pegged at 24 mt. It is estimated that the area under sugarcane cultivation is higher at 49.88-lakh hectares this year compared to 45.64-lakh hectares in 2016-17.

Sugar output in the country in October is seen at around 300,000-350,000 tonne, lower than 800,000 tonne pegged earlier, as mills in Maharashtra have deferred cane crushing operations to Nov 1.

Prices of sugar rose in most key wholesale markets of the country due to higher demand ahead of the festival of Diwali. Sugar prices rose in Mumbai as well, as transportation charges have increased due to lack of vehicles. Traders are bullish on sugar prices in the near term due to expectations of further rise in demand from bulk buyers such as sweets makers ahead of Diwali, which celebrated on Oct 19 this year.

India sugar output in October is likely to achieve only 40 per cent of the earlier assured quantity. Most mills in UP are now looking to start the crushing season by the last week of October, anticipating a labour shortage ahead of Diwali. With bumper cane availability, the UP government estimates a 10 per cent rise in output this season at 10 million tonnes (mt), a fourth of India’s overall sugar production estimate of 25.1 mt for October 2017-September 2018. Sugar mills in Maharashtra are planning to start the new season from November 1. The delay was aimed to avoid problems in harvesting of cane due to heavy rainfall in September which left fields muddy. Also, actual maturing of cane takes place in October and November.