India's sugar exports are experiencing a major decline as the figure stands at only 2.94 lakh tonne (294,000 tonne) with only three months to go in the current season against 16 lakh tonne (1.6 million) in the entire last year.
According to the latest data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, sugar exported so far in the current season (October-June) was 2.94 lakh tonne against 16 lakh tonne in October-September 2002-2003.
Giving the data, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution A P Singh said sugar exports were 10.53 lakh tonne (1.053 tonne) in 2001-02.
This itself was a decline of 15.35 per cent from a high of 12.44 lakh tonne (1.244 tonne) in the 2000-01 season, he said while replying to a question in the House.
He said sugar has been declared a freely exportable commodity by the government and its exports were undertaken by factories according to their commercial prudence.
The exports were however undertaken after an assessment of position with regard to stocks held by them besides production and requirements for domestic consumption. The domestic and international prices of sugar and provisions of Exim policy are factored before clearing exports, he added.
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