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Informist, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026

MUMBAI – India's sugar production in the ongoing 2025-26 (Oct-Sept) season rose over 18% on year to 19.50 million tonnes as of Jan. 31, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association said on Saturday. "Production levels so far reflect the combined impact of regional variations in cane availability, field conditions, and mill operations," the association said. 

The number of operational sugar mills also rose slightly, with 515 mills currently crushing compared with 501 units a year ago, the association said. 

As of Jan. 31, sugar production in Maharashtra rose 42% on year to 7.87 million tonnes, ISMA said. The state has reported the highest crushing rate this season and has 206 operational mills, against 190 units in the same period a year ago. 

Uttar Pradesh produced 5.51 million tonnes of sugar as of Jan. 31, up nearly 5% from 5.26 million tonnes a year ago, the association said. The rise in output was despite a slight decline in operational mills at 119, compared with 122 units a year ago. Karnataka, another major sugar producer, recorded "improved crushing momentum", with output up 15% on year at 3.81 million tonnes. The state had 71 operational mills as of Jan. 31, against 67 units a year ago. 

Among smaller sugar-producing states, sugar output in Gujarat remained unchanged on year at 490,000 tonnes. As of Jan. 31, sugar production in Tamil Nadu rose to 1.57 million tonnes from 1.68 million tonnes a year ago.

Based on a detailed analysis of field conditions, satellite data, estimated yield, and recovery so far, and expected yield recovery for the balanced season, ISMA will release its third advance estimate of sugar production in February 2026, it said.  

"As the season advances and sugar inventories continue to build, indications suggest that cane payment arrears have begun to show an upward trend," the association said. The sugar industry continues to face operational and cash-flow pressures due to a mismatch between the cost of sugar production and sugar realisations, it said. ISMA reiterated its demand for an upward revision in the minimum selling price of sugar from INR 31 per kg.  End

Reported by Shreya Shetty

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

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