The world's biggest consumer of the sweetener is likely to produce 31 million tonnes of sugar in the new season, nearly 13% more than a year ago, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement.

India started the new marketing year with carry forward stocks of 10.64 million tonnes, lower than the 14.58 million tonnes a year ago, the ISMA said.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; editing by Louise Heavens)