Balrampur Chini 2009-10 output up 10%: CFO

Balrampur Chini Mills' 2009/10 sugar output from cane rose 10 per cent but falling prices will put pressure on profitability in coming quarters, a senior company official said on Thursday. The company has produced 487,000 tonnes of sugar for the sugar year-ending in September, compared with 441,000 tonnes a year ago, Chief Financial Officer Kishor Shah told Reuters in a telephonic interview. All mills of Balrampur Chini, which has nine sugar factories in Uttar Pradesh, has stopped crushing due to low availability of cane, he added. "Margins will definitely be under pressure. Cost of production is very high, sugar price is very volatile," he said. Realisation in coming quarters will drop to Rs 30 a kg from Rs 35.86 in Jan-March quarter, he said.