Extra 1 million tons sugar exports possible if domestic output meets estimate, says govt. official
The Hindu
The country's sugar production has been estimated lower at 33.6 million tonnes for the 2022-23 marketing year, due to fall in production in the top three producing States
India, the world's second-largest sugar-producing nation after Brazil, can export an additional one million tonnes of the sweetener if the domestic output reaches an estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year, a senior Food Ministry official said on March 6.
The government will take a call next month on allowing more quantities of sugar exports, after assessing domestic production, he said.
Sugar availability is comfortable in the country and as a result, wholesale and retail prices of the sweetener are on a decline in the last one month.
The Food Ministry has allowed 6 million tonnes of sugar exports for the current 2022-23 marketing year (October-September).
India exported a record 11 million tonnes of sugar in the previous year.
"More exports are possible and we have a cushion for exports of additional one million tonnes, suppose the overall production reaches the estimated 33.6 million tonnes this year," the official said.
Sugar production has already reached 24.7 million tonnes till February of the ongoing 2022-23 marketing year, while mills have despatched 4.3 million tonnes for exports so far this year, he said.