Global Sugar Outlook 2024–25: Navigating Shifts, Seizing Opportunities
As the 2024–25 season unfolds, the global sugar landscape is undergoing notable shifts:
🔻 Production Deficit: Global sugar output is projected to fall short of demand, driven by lower production in Brazil and India—impacted by dry spells and erratic rainfall. Yet, Thailand is poised for a strong rebound, with favorable weather and expanded acreage. China and the EU also anticipate higher outputs.
📈 Steady Consumption: Global sugar consumption remains stable, buoyed by steady economic growth. Long-term projections suggest a 1.2% annual rise, reaching 202 million tonnes by 2034—driven by population and income growth.
🌐 Trade Dynamics: World sugar trade may contract this season, as reduced exportable volumes from Brazil and India offset Thailand’s surge. Brazil retains its lead as the top exporter, followed by Thailand and India.
🇮🇳 India’s Regional Trends:
- Maharashtra & Karnataka: Expecting robust production gains due to expanded acreage and improved crop quality.
- Uttar Pradesh: Facing red rot challenges in CO-0238 variety, but showing resilience with improved crop conditions and the release of disease-resistant varieties like CoSh 19231 (“Lahidi”) and CoSe 17451 (“Krishna”).
🧠 AI in Sugarcane Farming:
- Maharashtra’s pilot projects reveal up to 40% yield improvement and 30% water savings through AI-driven techniques—signaling a transformative shift in precision agriculture.
⚗️ Ethanol Ecosystem Updates:
- Concerns raised over retrospective ethanol fees by UP sugar mills.
- Indian Oil to launch 300 ethanol pumps nationwide.
- Discussions underway to revise cane ethanol pricing and boost maize production for grain ethanol—key to strengthening India’s fuel blending roadmap.
- – Dilip Patil
