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Crushing season ends with 4 million tons sugar
output
ISLAMABAD (April 29
2004): The Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA)
on Wednesday announced end of sugarcane crushing
season 2003-04, which took sugar production to 4
million tons for the first time in history.
It is a great achievement by all means for
Pakistan at a time when sugar production the world
over was showing downward trend. Pakistan needs
3.5 million tons sugar for its domestic needs
since the consumption worked out by the experts is
slightly less than 0.3 million tons per month.
According to PSMA, 43 million tons sugarcane,
worth Rs 45 billion, was crushed at 85 percent
capacity utilisation this year. Recovery recorded
in 2003-04 was as high as 9.08 percent against
8.66 percent of last year.
All provinces, with the exception of Sindh, showed
record production. Punjab was at the top. With 38
working sugar mills, it produced 2.6 million tons
sugar.
Sindh's 28 sugar mills produced 1.22 million tons,
whereas 5 mills in NWFP produced 0.17 million
tons.
Though final figures are still being worked out,
the production has crossed the 4.0 million tons
mark for the first time.
The recovery improvement played a considerable
role as the crop was allowed its maturity due to
delay in the crushing season.
The difference is noticeable, and worthy of
serious consideration, while forcing mills to
start at earlier dates to vacate a small portion
of land for addition to over 8.0 million hectares
already under wheat cultivation.
The domestic price structure had a serious blow
due to the continued glut in the sugar market.
The industry lost over Rs 30 billion during the
past 3 years due to crash in the domestic market.
The current year shows sugar availability of over
4.70 million tons against maximum consumption of
3.5 million tons. After allowing buffer stock, a
considerable surplus is foreseen.
With the current production Pakistan's rating has
moved upward among the ten biggest sugar producers
in the world.
Courtesy Business Recorder
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Pakissan.com; Advisory Point
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