Deficient monsoon rain so far has threatened recovery in sugar production this season, the second year in a row, pushing sugar prices to a three-month high in the past few weeks. 14 states and Union Territories with a huge sugar consumption base are currently facing supply shortage due to low output last year. Despite growing consumption, a number of these states do not produce sugar at all. The government has asked Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) to ensure that Mills do not increase prices as market prices were quoted at three-month highs.