India''s 2013/14 sugar output seen down 5.2 pct y/y - industry body

MUMBAI, July 9. - India''s sugar output in the201314 marketing year beginning October is likely to drop by5.2 percent from a year ago to 23.7 million tonnes as a droughtin the top producing state cut area under cane plantation, aleading industry body said on Tuesday. Production in the current year is estimated at 25 milliontonnes, Indian Sugar Mills Association said in a statement. "It is estimated that Uttar Pradesh will have record highsugarcane acreage....however, due to drought in Maharashtra lastyear, there has seen lower cane sowing there," the industry bodysaid in a statement. India is the world''s biggest consumer of the sweetener andthe second biggest producer after Brazil.