The production of sugar in the country rose 13.2% and stood at 47.86 lakh tonnes (LT) till December 15 in the current marketing year on higher output from Maharashtra and Karnataka, as per data compiled by Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA). The output rose even though the number of sugar mills crushing sugarcane this season fell to 440 from 453 in the same period last year. The sugar production stood at 42.29 LT in the same period of 2014-15 marketing year (October-September).
In Maharashtra, 164 sugar mills are in operation and they have produced 22.50 LT of sugar till 15th December, 2015. In 2014-15 SS, there were 166 sugar mills in operation as on 15th December, 2014 and they had produced 20.73 LT. In Uttar Pradesh, 105 out of 119 working sugar mills have commenced crushing operations and have produced 8.52 LT of sugar, as compared to 7.94 LT produced by 114 sugar mills as on 15th December, 2014 during last 2014-15 SS.
Further, the third largest producer of sugar, Karnataka has produced 10.29 LT of sugar till 15th December, 2015. This is about 3.23 LT higher than the sugar production in 2014-15 SS as on 15th December, 2014. During the current 2015-16 SS, 61 sugar mills are in operation as on 15th December, as compared to 62 operated on the corresponding date of 2014.