JAKARTA: Indonesia, the world’s second-largest sugar importer, is exploring the possibility of buying raw sugar from India, where a bumper cane crop has raised fears of a glut of the sweetener. India, too, is keen to export a bigger quantity, preferably through barter trade, according to industry executives.
A delegation from Indonesian Sugar Association met representatives of the Indian sugar industry in New Delhi recently. “As India will have excess sugar production next year, Indonesian industry is keen to import sugar from India,” said Prakash Naiknavare, managing director of National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories.
“For India, 2018-19 will be the year of highest-ever sugarcane and sugar availability. The ratoon crop that will be harvested in 2018-19 is growing very well in Maharashtra, Karnataka, etc,” said Naiknavare.
Meanwhile, the Indian sugar industry has already started brainstorming over various policy measure that would be required to manage the excess production, and exports is one of the measures being considered.
