News

Cooperative sector sugar mills across the country have stated that the impact of the stock limit will dampen the cooperative sugar sector. The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) has expressed concern that the decision to impose stock limits is likely to result in dropping the ex-mill realization below the current levels of Rs 3,650 per quintal in addition to GST and this may adversely affect the timely cane payment to farmers across the country. The food ministry has imposed limits on stocks sugar mills can hold during September and October, in a bid to discourage hoarding and curb any potential price rise during the festival season.

Large sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh have decided to begin crushing in October this year, almost a month ahead of schedule, to boost supply of the sweetener and control shifting of cane supply to jaggery and khandsari units. The commencement of crushing in October is set to benefit the mills, the government, and consumers alike, as it would help control shifting of cane supply to jaggery and khandsari units (kolhus), especially in western UP. In absence of procurement of sugarcane from the mills, small and marginal farmers in UP supply their produce to kolhu to fetch instant cash. With early start, the mills start generating early revenues also.

The government-run National Sugar Institute (NSI) has filed an application for patent rights for its innovative technique to develop bio-detergent from bagasse, the residue left after the extraction of juice from sugar cane. Since no chemical was used in preparing the detergent powder from bagasse, it was safe for skin and environment because it did not discharge any harmful waste. Use of bagasse for detergent has now provided a fresh option of earning.

Mills in Brazil’s Centre-South region produced 3.16 million tonne of sugar in the first fortnight of August, up 6% compared with 2.98 million tonne in the year-ago period. Centre-South Brazil accounts for over 90% of the country’s total sugar output. Mills in the region crushed 45.29 million tonne of cane during Aug 1-15, up 0.3% on year. The Centre-South region also produced 13.52 bln ltr of ethanol during the period, compared with 14.82 bln ltr in the year-ago period. Of the total cane crushed, around 48.7% was used for sugar production, while 51.3% was used to make ethanol. Mills in the region are likely to produce 35.2 million tonne of sugar this season, compared with 35.6 million tonne in 2016-17 (Apr-Mar).

Futures contracts of raw sugar on ICE fell due to higher output of the sweetener in Brazil. The most-active October contract was down 0.6% at 13.74 cents per pound.