KARACHI, April 22: World sugar production is expected to hit a record high of 170.308 million metric tons in 2007-08, an increase of three per cent as compared to 2006-07.

According to statistics provided by the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), reductions relate to Brazil 980, Australia 450, Russia 200 and Argentina 135, in thousand tons. On higher side, forecast is for EU 825, China 415, Philippines 160, Egypt 145, US 110 and Vietnam 100, all in thousand tons.

In Pakistan, sugar production is expected to improve in 2007-08. Sugarcane production is close to 60 million tons compared with 54 million tons harvest during 2006-07 and 44 million tons in 2005-06.

Pakistan sugar output is estimated at 4.350 million tons (raw value) in 2007-08, up 12 per cent from the previous year.

Growth of sugar output in India, the world’s largest sugar producing nation now, is one of the major supply sources of 2007-08.

Production estimate is recorded at 33.150 million tons (raw value) up 2.550 million tons. Other increases are also originating in Asia.

A new record output is seen in China, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

World beet sugar production is to decline by 900,000 in 2007-08 due to lower production in Russia and Ukraine. World sugarcane output is projected to grow by 7.3 million tons, increasing share of sugarcane to 79 per cent as against 77.7 per cent last season.

Sugar importing countries are to produce 66.357 million tons. In Russia, after 24 per cent production increase in 2006-07, output is expected to stabilise by 3.25 million tons.—PPI