5 mt of sucrose output may be diverted for ethanol manufacturing of the projected 36 million tonnes production
As gross sugar (in terms of sucrose) production in the next season, starting October, is likely to be 36 million tonnes (mt), the government can comfortably allow 1 mt for export. it can still ensure a higher closing stock of 6 mt in 2025-26 against the expected closing stock of 4.5 mt in the 2024-25 season, said Praful Vithalani, Chairman of trading firm Jagjivan Keshavji (JK) group., Vithalani said: “According to our company’s estimates, sugar consumption is of 28.8 million tonnes in the 2024-25 season and the expected closing stock as of September 30, 2025 will be 4.5 mt.”He said the consensus is that in next season (2025-26), 36 mt of sugar (in terms of sucrose) production is expected. “We feel 31 mt of sucrose be used for sugar production, which includes allowing 1 mt for exports comfortably, though there is no parity (now with global price). This will also ensure 6 mt of closing stock as on September 30, 2026.
