Pakistan's sugar production at record 5.3 million tons during November 2013-April 2014 period due to favorable climate, high prices received last year by growers, industry association says

Nevin Barich

PAKISTAN , May 6, 2014 (Business Recorder) – A bumper sugar production of 5.33 million tons was reported, this year (November 2013 to April 2014), according to a fortnightly mill-wise statement issued by Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA). The production of sugar in Pakistan reached a new record of high production, the statement added.

Sugar production on 1.13 million hectares by the close of crushing season, ie April 15, was reported to be 5.33 million tons as against PSMA's estimation of 5 million tons and above the domestic requirements of 4.5 millions tons. The consumption of sugar by 184.35 million people at 24.6 kg per capita is 4.5 million tons. Sugar Production increased by 6.07 per cent as compared to last year's 5.030 million tons.

PSMA attributed the cause of bumper production of sugar to the favourable climatic conditions and the high prices received, last rear, by the growers. The crushing season started from November 1, 2013 and closed in mid-April 2014, showing higher yield of sugarcane, this year. The quantity of sugarcane crushed in Pakistan was 54 million tons by 87 mills, which the PSMA said, was much higher as compared to last year's 50 million tons, crushed by 86 mills. The recovery was reduced to 9.86 per cent as compared to last year's 10 per cent.

The PSMA statement said that Punjab having highest rate of harvesting of sugar reportedly produced 3.20 million tons sugar, this year, at 45 mills, indicating an increase of 1.1 per cent as against last year's production of 3.17 million tons. The recovery observed, this year, was 9.83 pc and 32.63 million tons sugarcane was crushed during the year. Reported yield of sugar was 1.813 million tons with a record surge of 17pc from last year's production of 1.54 million tons. Cane crushed this year stood at 7.86 million tons, showing recovery of 10.15 per cent.

Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa produced 0.313 million tons with a recovery of 8.75 per cent from seven mills, showed an increase of 1.2pc in production as against the last year's 0.310 million tons. The quantity of cane crushed stood at 3.58 million tons. However, the prices of sugar went down in the wake of heavy production of sugar and high growth in consumption. Moreover, 2014 is considered as a statistical surplus season for country's economy, which is ranked at number nine among 10 largest sugar producers.

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