Mills across the country are likely to produce around 400,000 tonne sugar in October. Earlier, Indian Sugar Mills Association had estimated production in October at 800,000 tonne, due to expectations that crushing of sugarcane would start earlier than usual this year. The Centre had asked millers across the country to begin cane crushing operations for the 2017-18 (Oct-Sep) season early in October, in a bid to tide over likely shortages during the festival season.