It is reported by Financial Express.

«Export of sugar in current sugar season 2021-22 is 15 times of export as compared to export in sugar season 2017-18», — the ministry said in a statement.

The major importing countries are Indonesia, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE, Malaysia and African countries.

In 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 marketing years, about 620,000 tonnes, 3,8 mln tonnes and 5,96 mln tonnes of sugar were exported, respectively.

In 2020-21, about 7 mln tonnes of sugar have been exported.

Millers have contracted for export of about 9 mln tonnes of sugar in 2021-22. Out of which, 7,5 mln tonnes have been exported till May 18.

This is without announcement of any export subsidy.

The ministry said it is encouraging sugar mills to divert excess sugarcane to ethanol.

To boost agricultural economy, reduce dependence on imported fossil fuel and save foreign exchange on account of crude oil import bill, the government has fixed target of 10 per cent blending of fuel grade ethanol with petrol by 2022 and 20 per cent blending by 2025.

Till year 2014, ethanol distillation capacity of molasses-based distilleries was only about 2,15 mln litres.

In the past eight years, the capacity of molasses-based distilleries has been increased to 5,69 mln litres.

Thus, total ethanol production capacities have been increased from 4,21 mln litres to 8,67 mln litres in just eight years.

The government has also allowed production of ethanol from B-heavy molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and sugar.

In sugar seasons 2018-19 , 2019-20 and 2020-21, about 3.37 mln tonnes, 9.26 mln tonnes and 2,2 mln tonnes of sugar were diverted to ethanol, respectively.

In 2021-22, about 3,5 mln tonnes of excess sugar would be diverted to ethanol.

«By 2025, it is targeted to divert more than 6 mln tonnes of excess sugar to ethanol», — the statement said.

This would solve the problem of high inventories of sugar and improve liquidity of mills.