Government to decide on sugar exports in early November
21 Oct 2011
The government may decide on allowing sugar exports for crop year 2011-12 in the first week of November. A meeting of the empowered group of ministers (EGoM) on food has been deferred due to the differences in sugar output estimates between the food and agriculture ministries.
The agriculture ministry estimates sugar production in the country during 2011-12 to be between 25.5 million and 26 million tonnes whereas the food ministry has projected it to be around 24.6 million tonnes, marginally higher than the previous year's output of 24.3 million tonnes.
We may take a call on sugar exports in the first week of November, food minister KV Thomas told reporters today.
The government is likely to allow fresh sugar exports, but in limited quantities at regular intervals.
Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar favours sugar exports in tranches after Diwali, the peak season for domestic sugar sales.
The sugar industry, which has pegged output at 26 million tonnes for 2011-12, has been demanding further export permits.