It is forecasted that India may have to import sugar in 2025

Reuters news agency conducted a survey of more than 200 farming households and showed that unusually dry weather caused by El Nino reduced output. Maharashtra state in the west, neighboring Karnataka state in the south, along with Uttar Pradesh state in the north are the three states that account for more than 80% of India's sugar output. Dry weather here is prompting many farmers to grow other crops that require less water and grow faster than sugarcane, such as sorghum and chickpeas. India produced 33.1 million tons of sugar in the crop year ending September 2023, just behind Brazil's expected 46.9 million tons. India supplies 12% of globally traded sugar, and has exported an average of 6.8 million tonnes of sugar over the past five years, making it the number two exporter during that period. However, this South Asian country was usurped by Thailand in 2023. The Indian Sugar Mills Association said in August 2023 that net production could fall to 31.7 million tons in the crop ...