Sugar industry body seeks higher export, more diversion for ethanol as production likely to touch 349 lakh tonne
India’s sugar output is projected to rise 18% to 349 lakh tonnes in 2025–26, says ISMA. To prevent a glut, it urges the government to allow 20 lakh tonnes of exports and divert 50 lakh tonnes for ethanol. ISMA also calls for revised ethanol and sugar pricing to support the sector.
India’s sugar production is projected to surge by 18% to 349 lakh tonne in the 2025-26 season, prompting ISMA to urge the government to permit exports of 20 lakh tonne. They also recommend diverting 50 lakh tonne for ethanol production and revising ethanol prices to prevent a potential sugar glut.
Representational Image NEW DELHI: India’s sugar production is estimated to increase by 18% to 349 lakh tonne for the sugar season 2025-26 against last season’s 295 lakh tonne, according to the first estimate of ISMA released on Thursday. It said with the bumper production, govt should allow export of 20 lakh tonne of the sweetener, diversion of 50 lakh tonne for ethanol manufacturing and revise the price of ethanol to avoid the risk of a sugar glut.“With higher gross sugar output expected in the next season, there is scope for export of 20 lakh tonne in 2025-26 season,” Indian Sugar and Bio Energy Manufacturers Association’s (ISMA) president Gautam Goel told reporters.For the ongoing 2024-25 season (October-September), sugar production is estimated to be 261 lakh tonne, and govt has allowed exports of 1 million tonnes of the sweetener.ISMA said that though cane area has gone up marginally to 57.2 lakh hectares from 57.1 lac hectares in the sugar season 2024-25, good rainfall in cane growing areas have helped in enhancing productivity and improving sugar recovery. It has estimated sugar production in Maharashtra to increase to 133 lakh tonne in 2025-26 compared to 93.3 lakh tonne last season.
Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are also expected to record higher production.Goel said considering higher sugar production expected next season, govt should act timely and allow more sugar for diversion for ethanol manufacturing and for exports. “If you don’t act on time, it would cause problems for the sector, something we have been able to avoid so far,” he added.Urging govt to take an early call for allowing sugar exports, higher diversion for ethanol, it also said that there is an urgent need to increase the minimum selling price of sweetener and prices of ethanol made from B molasses and cane juice as well.The industry body said that people have invested Rs 40,000 crore in creating capacity for ethanol production to meet govt’s target of increasing ethanol supply to reduce India’s dependence on imported crude
To Read more about Ethanol Industry & Bio Energy News, continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : The Times Of India
