After several revisions in sugar output data by the Union government, now the US Department of Agriculture has modified its figures on India's sugar production, saying that it may touch 252 lakh tonnes during the 2006-07 season.

The USDA revised its estimates upward on the back of improved sugarcane availability and reduced diversion of cane for production of other sweeteners - khandsari and gur.

Late monsoon rains in 2006 and generally favourable weather conditions in most sugarcane growing areas resulted in higher cane yields. The estimates are based on crystal weight basis.

According to the sugar industry, the output is likely to be around 265 lakh tonnes in the current season that ends in September 2007 against 192.6 lakh tonnes in the previous year.

The department has pegged the sugar production for 2007-08 season at an even higher level of 265 lakh tonnes.

The ministry of agriculture in India had revised its sugar production data for the year several times, each time hiking the output almost by 10 lakh tonnes.