Sugar mills in India have exported 24.96 lakh tonne of the commodity in the ongoing 2020-21 season with Indonesia accounting for the maximum shipments, according to All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA).
An additional 3.03 lakh tonne of sugar is in transit and delivered to port-based refineries, the trade body said. The country is well on course to complete the 60-lakh tonne mill export target this year with Indonesia, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka emerging as the top three buyers. Mills have contracted to export 33.38 lakh tonne of sugar so far as against the 60 lakh tonne quota assigned by the food ministry. The total exports undertaken so far, 9,61,594 tonne of sugar was exported to Indonesia, 3,08,302 tonne to Afghanistan and 2,46,391 tonne to Sri Lanka till April 9 this year. Of the total exports, raws part is around 19 lakh tonne and the remainder is whites. The Covid factor and the commencement of the monsoon could bring down exports by around 5 lakh tonne, with the start of the Brazil season, their sugar could be much cheaper globally. Last year, Iran was the top export destination for Indian sugar with 11 lakh tonne. This year, however, exports to Iran did not take place due to currency issues. Somalia and Bangladesh were other major markets for Indian sugar accounting for 1,90,864 tonne and 1,42,434 tonne, respectively.
