India fears for global sugar exports as mills shut down early after rain hits cane supply
- The western state of Maharashtra, which accounts for more than a third of the country’s sugar output, could see exports drop
- The industry was banking on higher production for additional exports, instead, cane crushing will stop 45 to 60 days earlier than last year
Sugar mills in India’s top producing state Maharashtra are set to stop cane crushing 45 to 60 days earlier than last year as heavy rain has curtailed sugar cane availability, a senior state government official said on Friday.
The western state of Maharashtra, which accounts for more than a third of the country’s sugar output, could produce 12.8 million tonnes of sugar in the 2022/23 marketing year that began on October 1, down from an earlier forecast of 13.8 million tonnes, Maharashtra’s sugar commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said.
Lower sugar output could prevent the world’s second-biggest exporter from allowing additional exports, potentially supporting global prices and allowing rivals Brazil and Thailand to increase their shipments.
India has allowed sugar mills to export only 6.1 million tonnes of the sweetener in the current season and, out of that, mills have already contracted to export 5.7 million tonnes.
“Excessive rainfall curtailed sugar cane’s vegetative growth. This year lower cane is available for crushing,” Gaikwad said.
A few mills in the central part of the state could start winding down operations in 15 days, and by the end of April all except three or four mills could have stopped crushing, he said.
