MAHARASHTRA SUGAR OUTPUT SEEN DOWN 48%

Mumbai: Maharashtra is likely to end the current sugar season with an output of 4.7 million tonnes (mt), down nearly 48 per cent from 9.1 mt a year ago, Mr. Ajit Chougule, Secretary, Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation, told NewsWire 18.

"As crushing operations in the state are almost over, the total figure (of sugar output) could reach 4.7 mt, " Mr. Chougule said. In the current sugar season, which started on October 1, cane crushing operations were undertaken by 144 factories in the State and as of today, only three factories - one each in Kolhapur, Pune, and Solapur regions - continue to do so, he said.

However, these factories will also end crushing operations in a week's time, he said.

As of Wednesday, Maharashtra produced 4.57 mt sugar, compared with 7.92mt a year ago, a 32 per cent decline year-on year.

Total cane crushed until Wednesday was 39.70 mt versus 66 mt a year ago, he said.

Sugar recovery rate in the current season so far was 11.51 per cent compared with 12 per cent a year ago.

- NewsWire 18
(The Hindu Business Line : 18.4.2009)