India may allow sugar exports after assessing the final sugarcane sowing and output in the 2024-25 season, as the world’s biggest producer after Brazil is expecting a lower sugar output of 30 million tonnes (MT) next season, sources said.

For the current 2023-24 season ending September, sugar production has reached 31.5 million tonnes so far, with the final output likely to touch 31.8 million tonnes as mills in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka wrap up crushing, the sources added. Last year, India produced 32.8 million tonnes of sugar.

Sugar production in the 2024-25 season is estimated to be lower at 30 million tonnes due to lower sowing in Karnataka, as per trade estimate, the sources added. “The industry has demanded exports of 1 million tonnes of sugar. We are expecting lower sugar output next year and stocks are required for ethanol production,”sources said.