India to leapfrog Brazil as biggest sugar maker

India is on course to overtake Brazil as the world's biggest sugar producer in 2007/2008, the International Sugar Organization forecast Friday in a report which also predicted a record surplus.
"At this early stage, the ISO forecasts India's production in 2007/08 at 33.15 million tonnes, raw value, a new record and a massive 8.0-percent increase from the previous year," the London-based ISO said.
"Thus, we expect that in 2007/08 India will overtake Brazil as the world's largest sugar producer."
The ISO added: "Record production is also anticipated in Brazil, although the industry expansion is expected to slow down there in 2008."
Meanwhile, global sugar output was forecast to outpace demand by a record 10.8 million tonnes in the crop year ending September 2008.
Total sugar production was forecast to stand at a record 169.6 million tonnes.