Mills across Karnataka produced 1.62 mln tn sugar during Oct-Dec, up 9.8% from 1.47 mln tn produced a year ago. The mills in the state crushed 16.61 mln tn of sugarcane, higher than 14.73 mln tn crushed during the same period last year. The average sugar recovery from cane in Karnataka, one of the top sugar-producing states, was 9.7% during Oct-Dec, slightly up from 9.6% a year ago. The state has pegged sugar output for the ongoing season at 2.6 mln tn, up 23.8% on year. Mills in Karnataka produced 2.1 mln tn sugar in 2016-17.