Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has upgraded its sugar production estimate for October 19 to September 20 season to 26.5 million tonnes. This was arrived at based on the satellite images of cane area taken in the last week of January 2020.  In a press release ISMA stated that there was an agreement that sugar production during 2019-20 would be slightly more at 26.5 million tonnes than the 26 million tonnes estimated by ISMA in November 2019. 

The estimate was made following a reduction in sugar output due to more production of ethanol by diversion of heavy molasses and sugarcane juice. Sugar mills in UP are expected to produce 11.8 million tonnes, Maharashtra about 6.2 million tonnes and Karnataka about 3.3 million tonnes. ISMA has estimated sugar exports for this season at 5 million tonnes.