INDIAN SUGAR INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE IN 2017 - 2018 Overview
India's sugar demand is 24-25 MT annually. Sugarcane area is higher at 49.88 lakh hectares this year compared to 45.64 lakh hectares in 2016-17.
Performance for 2017-2018
India's sugar production in the current season is set to touch a record 30 million tonnes, surprising both the industry and the government, with the two biggest producing states of the sweetener reporting bumper output.
Maharashtra has already produced about 10 million tonnes, with the northern sugar bowl of Uttar Pradesh following closely at 9.3 million tonnes. India's earlier record output was in 2014-15. Sugar Production is likely to rise in all states except Tamil Nadu, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a report.
Steps taken by Government
To boost domestic supply this year in view of fall in production, the government had allowed duty free import of 5 lakh tonnes of sugar in April-May.
And it further allowed imports of 3 lakh tonnes of raw sugar at concessional duty of 25 per cent to check prices during upcoming festive season.
