Growth in Sugar Industry
Report
Executive Summary In an era where there is a need for inclusive growth, the sugar industry is amongst the few industries that have successfully contributed to the rural economy. It has done so by commercially utilizing the rural resources to meet the large domestic demand for sugar and by generating surplus energy to meet the increasing energy needs of India. In addition to this, the industry has become the mainstay of the alcohol industry. The sector supports over 50 million farmers and their families, and delivers value addition at the farm side1 . In general, sugarcane price accounts for approximately 70 percent of the ex-mill sugar price2. The sector also has a significant standing in the global sugar space. The Indian domestic sugar market is one of the largest markets in the world, in volume terms. India is also the second largest sugar producing geography. India remains a key growth driver for world sugar, growing above the Asian and world consumption growth average. Globally, in most of the key geographies like Brazil and Thailand, regulations have a significant influence on the sugar sector. Perishable nature of cane, small farm landholdings and the need to influence domestic prices; all have been the drivers for regulations. In India, too, sugar is highly regulated. Since 1993, the regulatory environment has considerably eased, but sugar still continues to be an essential commodity under the Essential Commodity Act. There are regulations across the entire value chain land demarcation, sugarcane price, sugarcane procurement, sugar production and sale of sugar by mills in domestic and international markets. However, fundamental changes in the consumer profile and the demonstrated ability of the sector to continuously ensure availability of sugar for domestic consumption has diluted the need for sugar to be considered as an essential commodity. According to a recently conducted nation wide survey, nearly 75 percent of the total non-levy sugar is
Executive Summary In an era where there is a need for inclusive growth, the sugar industry is amongst the few industries that have successfully contributed to the rural economy. It has done so by commercially utilizing the rural resources to meet the large domestic demand for sugar and by generating surplus energy to meet the increasing energy needs of India. In addition to this, the industry has become the mainstay of the alcohol industry. The sector supports over 50 million farmers and their families, and delivers value addition at the farm side1 . In general, sugarcane price accounts for approximately 70 percent of the ex-mill sugar price2. The sector also has a significant standing in the global sugar space. The Indian domestic sugar market is one of the largest markets in the world, in volume terms. India is also the second largest sugar producing geography. India remains a key growth driver for world sugar, growing above the Asian and world consumption growth average. Globally, in most of the key geographies like Brazil and Thailand, regulations have a significant influence on the sugar sector. Perishable nature of cane, small farm landholdings and the need to influence domestic prices; all have been the drivers for regulations. In India, too, sugar is highly regulated. Since 1993, the regulatory environment has considerably eased, but sugar still continues to be an essential commodity under the Essential Commodity Act. There are regulations across the entire value chain land demarcation, sugarcane price, sugarcane procurement, sugar production and sale of sugar by mills in domestic and international markets. However, fundamental changes in the consumer profile and the demonstrated ability of the sector to continuously ensure availability of sugar for domestic consumption has diluted the need for sugar to be considered as an essential commodity. According to a recently conducted nation wide survey, nearly 75 percent of the total non-levy sugar is