New Delhi (PTI): Sugar production in Maharashtra, the country's largest producer of the sweetener, has touched 86 lakh tons and the state is expected to produce another 1.5 lakh tons till May when the season ends.

"Sugar production has reached 86 lakh tons in Maharashtra till yesterday," Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation Ltd Managing Director Prakash Naiknavare told PTI.

Crushing in Maharashtra is expected to get over by the end of this month, he said, adding that the state would produce another 1.5 lakh tone by that time.

Maharashtra produced 90.75 lakh in 2006-07 season. Sugar season runs from October to September in India.

The crushing in the state started late by six weeks in 2007-08 season, which has caused a marginal decline in the production.

"Normally the crushing starts from October 1, but this season it started from November 15," Naiknavare had said and added that lingering monsoon coupled with farmers' failure to arrange for loan to start the mills on time were the main factors for the delay.

On exports, Naiknavare said the mills are currently manufacturing white sugar in anticipation of rise in domestic prices and has stopped producing raw sugar.

"Exports are not happening in expected quantum," he said.

Sugar exports from the state is estimated at 17 lakh tons in the current season as compared to 12 lakh tons last year.

The sugar production for entire country is estimated at 270 lakh tons during the current season against 283 lakh tons last year, while exports are estimated at 30 lakh tons in compared to about 17 lakh tons previous year.