Sugar body says 325 mills crushing sugarcane as on Sat despite late start
This story was originally published at 15:26 IST on 17 November 2025
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MUMBAI – Despite a delayed start to the new sugarcane crushing season, 325 mills have started crushing operations, up sharply from 144 mills in the corresponding period last year, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd. said in a release. As a result, 12.8 million tonnes of sugarcane had been crushed as of Saturday against 9.1 million tonnes a year ago.
India's sugarcane crushing and sugar production season traditionally starts Oct. 1, if the southwest monsoon withdraws by the end of September. This year, however, the monsoon extended its stay well into October in most parts of the country, with post-monsoon showers continuing into November in some parts, including Maharashtra.
Despite the delayed start to the crushing season, it is estimated that the country's gross sugar production will be 35 million tonnes, as per the release. In Maharashtra, sugar production for the season is expected to be 12.5 million tonnes. In Uttar Pradesh, sugar production is expected to be 11.0 million tonnes. In Karnataka, sugar output is seen at 7.0 million tonnes.
Sugar production during the sugar year 2025-26 (Oct-Sept) was 1.05 million tonnes as of Saturday, up from 710,000 tonnes a year ago, the federation said. Average sugar recovery was 8.2% against last year's 7.8%.
In 2025-26, sugarcane-based feedstock diversion for ethanol production is projected at 3.5 million tonnes. Domestic consumption of sugar is seen at 29.0 million tonnes. The opening stock for the year was 5.0 million tonnes. The federation expects a sugar surplus of 2.0-2.5 million tonnes, of which the government has allowed 1.5 million tonnes to be exported.
"This timely advance announcement will help to stabilise market sentiments," the federation said. India can expect another 1.0 million tonnes for exports in the latter part of the season, it added. "This will partially give relief to sugar millers who are currently in a semi-depression state due to non-revision of sugar MSP (minimum selling price) since last 6 years and ethanol purchase prices remaining stagnant for last 3 years," according to its release.
With the all-India area under sugarcane having plateaued at 5.5-5.7 million hectares and cane yields stagnant at 75-77 tonnes per hectare, there is a dire need for India, the world's second largest producer and largest consumer of sugar, to harvest more sugarcane at lower cost from limited area, Harshwardhan Patil, president of the federation, said. "We appeal to our cane-growing farmers to wholeheartedly adopt integration of artificial intelligence in sugarcane farming which has successfully demonstrated increased yield of 40% at reduced cultivation cost of 30%," he added.
The industry is also seeking an increase in minimum selling price of sugar this year. "We at NCSF have a three-pronged focus, viz. sugar MSP risen to at least existing ex-mill realisation pan India, upward revision in sugar-based ethanol prices, and increasing sugar-based ethanol allocation in future cycles," Prakash Naiknavare, managing director of the federation, said. End
Reported by Taniva Singha Roy
Edited by Rajeev Pai
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