Thailand, the world's second biggest sugar exporter, is expected to start 2009/10 sugarcane crushing on November 20, slightly earlier than usual, millers and industry officials said on Thursday. The crushing season usually starts in early December. It is expected to run through to the end of April 2010.
Cane production in 2009/10 is likely to be only 71 million tonnes, giving around 7.1 million tonnes of sugar, according to the latest crop survey conducted jointly by millers, cane growers and traders.