China's 2016/17 sugar production had reached more than 2.3 million tonnes by December, the state planner said on Friday, citing data from the China Sugar Association. The National Development and Reform Commission did not give comparable figures for last year but a major industry website earlier reported a significant increase in output from the country's top producing region of Guangxi.

Guangxi, origin of about two-thirds of the country's sugar cane, had produced 1.35 million tonnes of sugar by the end of December, up 270,000 tonnes, or 25 percent, from last year. Expanded acreage of sugar beet in northern provinces is also seen helping lift output to around 9.5 million tonnes from 8.7 million tonnes last season. One of the world's top sugar importers, sales in the 2016/17 season so far have reached 1.2 million tonnes, added the NDRC.

Copyright Reuters, 2017