ISMA cuts sugar output estimate to 30.2 mt
The sugar industry has lowered its estimates for sugar production by about 8 lakh tonnes to 30.2 million tonnes (mt) for the ongoing 2020-21 season due to lower yields and recovery, and the diversion of cane juice and molasses for producing ethanol.
In its second advanced estimates released on Thursday, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) has factored in likely diversion of about 2 mt of cane juice and B-molasses for the production of ethanol. ISMA had earlier pegged sugar output at 31 million tonnes for 2020-21 higher than the previous year’s 27.42 mt. In Uttar Pradesh, the largest sugar producing State, mills are expected to produce 10.5 mt, down from previous year’s 12.63 mt due to lower yields and recovery, said ISMA. The decline in UP sugar output is also due to higher diversion of cane for gur, khandsari and towards ethanol production.
Fertiliser makers demand import duty reduction on raw materials
The fertiliser sector is looking forward to some duty corrections on the import of raw materials and finished products in the forthcoming Budget 2021-22. Currently, the import duties on raw materials and finished fertiliser products are at 5 per cent.
“We want the import duties on raw materials to be reduced from the current 5 per cent to around 1 per cent. We also want the duty on imported finished fertiliser products to be increased from 5 per cent to 7.5 or 10 per cent,” said Satish Chander, Director General, Fertiliser Association of India (FAI), the apex trade body.
WTO members debate definition of ‘artisanal’ fishers to be exempted from subsidy ban
Ecuador has floated a proposal at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the need to define what qualifies as ‘artisanal fishing’ that should be exempted from prohibition of subsidies related to overfishing.
The proposal directly takes on India’s suggestion, based on which the current negotiations on carve-outs are taking place, that all fishers in developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) fishing within territorial waters, defined as 12 nautical miles from the shore, should be eligible for the exemption.
