Declining sugar sales in India has left the country with enough stocks until the next crop, ruling out the need for more imports later in the year. Indian sugar sales are seen down 1 million tonnes from the start of the season in October 2016. The decline partly on higher domestic prices and the effect of demonetisation, under which high-value banknotes were scrapped. Govt decision to abolish a subsidy for sugar given to poor families, which accounts for about 10% of sugar sales, also took its toll. ISMA expects production for the season to total 20.2 million tonnes, just below its previous estimate of 20.3 million tonnes. Total Indian demand is seen at 23.8 to 24 million tonnes for the 2016/17 season, compared to typical annual demand of about 25 million tonnes. But ending stocks are seen between 4.55 and 4.75 million tonnes, which gives India a big enough supply cushion until sugar from the new 2017/18 crop hits the market in late October.