<p>Trading in sugar futures was banned in May 2009 and the suspension is valid till September 2010.<br /><br />"I will get to know the sugar production situation in September. I will take a view on it (lifting ban on sugar futures) in the first week of September," Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of a National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) function here.<br /><br />Pawar was replying to a query that whether the government will consider removing ban on sugar futures in view of sharp fall in prices.<br /><br />Retail sugar prices, at present, are ruling sharply lower by 40 per cent at Rs 30 a kg compared to Rs 48 a kg in mid-January in Delhi.<br /><br />Sugar production in India, the world's second largest producer and the biggest consumer, is estimated to touch 18.8 million tonnes in the ongoing 2009-10 season, nearly three million tonnes more than the earlier projection.<br /><br />In 2010-11, sugar output is expected at 25.5 million tonnes, higher than the annual demand of 23 million tonnes.<br /><br />Sugar season runs from October to September.<br /><br />The country has imported about 6 million tonnes of sugar since early last year as sugar output in 2008-09 and 2009-10 crop year was lower than the domestic demand.</p>
<p>Trading in sugar futures was banned in May 2009 and the suspension is valid till September 2010.<br /><br />"I will get to know the sugar production situation in September. I will take a view on it (lifting ban on sugar futures) in the first week of September," Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of a National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation (NCCF) function here.<br /><br />Pawar was replying to a query that whether the government will consider removing ban on sugar futures in view of sharp fall in prices.<br /><br />Retail sugar prices, at present, are ruling sharply lower by 40 per cent at Rs 30 a kg compared to Rs 48 a kg in mid-January in Delhi.<br /><br />Sugar production in India, the world's second largest producer and the biggest consumer, is estimated to touch 18.8 million tonnes in the ongoing 2009-10 season, nearly three million tonnes more than the earlier projection.<br /><br />In 2010-11, sugar output is expected at 25.5 million tonnes, higher than the annual demand of 23 million tonnes.<br /><br />Sugar season runs from October to September.<br /><br />The country has imported about 6 million tonnes of sugar since early last year as sugar output in 2008-09 and 2009-10 crop year was lower than the domestic demand.</p>