NEW DELHI: India is likely to produce 33.5 million tonnes of sugar in the season to Sept 30 this year, down 2.9% from the previous forecast of 34.5 million tonnes, a leading trade body said on Monday, after unfavourable weather hit cane yields.

“The decline in production in Maharashtra and Karnataka is mainly due to lower sugar cane yield,” said Rahil Shaikh, vice-chairman of the All India Sugar Trade Association, referring to India’s leading sugar-producing states.