New Delhi: Sugar production fell 54 per cent during October-November owing to a steep fall in outout at several Maharashtra sugar mills, which were hit by drought and floods, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (Isma) said on Tuesday.

“Sugar production till November 30, 2019 in the current 2019-20 sugar season is 18.85 lakh tonne, which was 40.69 lakh tonne last year on November 30, 2018,” Isma said.

India is the world’s largest sugar producer and lower output here could push up sugar prices globally.

Production in Maharash-tra fell to 67,000 tonnes during the two-month period compared with 1.9 million tonnes a year ago.

Last month, the trade body had said that sugar output was estimated to fall 21.5 per cent to 26 million tonne in the 2019-20 marketing year. The sugar season or marketing year runs from October to September.

Only 279 sugar mills were operating as on November 30 this year compared with 418 units crushing sugarcane a year ago, Isma said in its latest statement.

According to the data, sugar production in Uttar Pradesh increased to 10.81 lakh tonne during October-November from 9.14 lakh tonne in the year-ago period. In Karnataka, the output dropped to 5.21 lakh tonne from 8.40 lakh tonne.

Trade and market sources said about 15 lakh tonne of sugar has been contracted for exports, which includes contracts made with port-based refiners.

end-of