India’s sugar output may drop next year

MUMBAI, Dec 12 (Reuters): India's sugar production could fall in 2019/20 as farmers are struggling to plant cane because of a drought in two of the country's top producing states, according to multiple industry officials and traders.

A drop in production would slash exports from the world's second-biggest sugar producer and support global prices that have fallen 15 per cent so far in 2018.

"Many farmers couldn't plant cane in Maharashtra and Karnataka due to water scarcity. This will reflect in next year's production," said Prakash Naiknavare, managing director of The National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.