Notwithstanding the drought in 2002-03, India's sugar production touched an all time high of 198.51 lakh (19.85 million) tonnes in October-June 2002-03, up 8.08 per cent from 182.44 lakh (18.24 million) tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Factories are now saddled with a huge stock of 173.06 lakh (17.31 million) tonnes as on June 30 as against 169.30 lakh (16.93 million) tonnes on the same day last year.
According to the latest industry data, exports have nearly doubled to 14.95 lakh (1.49 million) tonnes during the period from 773,000 tonnes in October-June 2001-02.
The production increased to 211,000 tonnes from 153,000 tonnes in June and exports during the month were 133,000 tonnes when compared with 104,000 tonnes for the same month last year.
The data collated by the Indian Sugar Mills Association and National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories shows that despatches for internal consumption in October-June period were 119.5 lakh (11.95 million) tonnes as against 117.41 lakh (11.74 million) tonnes of the previous year.
In June, the offtake for internal consumption was 13.52 lakh (1.35 million) tonnes, up from 13.42 lakh (1.34 million) tonnes in the same month of 2002.
Millers said considering the remunerative prices offered for cane, diversion to gur (jaggery) and khandsarii units has been less and concentration of water due to the drought has led to higher sugar recovery, leading to the record production this season.
© 2025