Maharashtra's state registered a 50% decline in sugar output

MUMBAI: Leading sugar producing state Maharashtra has registered a 50 per cent decline in production during October-April 2009, a top industry official has said.

“Maharashtra has registered 4.6 million tonnes sugar production in the season ended October-April as compared with 9.1 million tonnes in the previous year, posting a decline of around 50 per cent,” Maharashtra State Co-operative Sugar Factories Federatio n Managing Director, Mr Prakash Naiknavare, told PTI here.

Maharashtra contributed 31 per cent of the country’s total sugar production. Non-availability of sugarcane and dry weather were the reasons for lower output, Mr Naiknavare said. Sugar mills in Maharashtra crushed only 40 mt of cane as compared with 76. 1 mt a year ago, he said.

The latest ex-factory rate of sugar in Maharashtra is Rs 2,150 a quintal for the S30 grade and Rs 2,190 for M40 grade. “I anticipate that lower output by both leading sugar producers, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, may lead to firming up of sugar prices by Rs 100-200 a quintal in the next few weeks,” he said.

source: thehindubusinessline