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Informist, Monday, Mar. 9, 2026

 

By Afra Abubacker

 

NEW DELHI – Sugar production in Maharashtra in the ongoing 2025-26 season (Oct-Sept) rose 23% on year to 9.56 million tonnes as of Friday amid higher sugarcane availability and a improved recovery rate, according to data from the state's sugar commissionerate.

 

As of Friday, mills in Maharashtra crushed 10.10 million tonnes of sugarcane, up from 8.28 million tonnes in the corresponding period last year. Sugar output at the same time last year was 7.78 million tonnes, data showed. Meanwhile, the average sugar recovery rate rose to 9.46% from 9.39%.

 

Amid higher sugarcane availability, the state saw 122 mills shut down as of Friday, compared to 129 units at the same time last year. At the start of the season, the state had 210 operational mills, against 199 units last year. 

 

Key sugarcane-growing divisions such as Kolhapur, Pune, Solapur, Sangli, and Satara reported robust crushing volumes. However, sugar recovery rates varied sharply across these divisions. 

 

The Kolhapur division remained the strongest performer so far this season, crushing about 21 million tonnes of sugarcane and producing 2.31 million tonnes of sugar. The division reported a recovery rate of 11.1%, significantly higher than the state average of 9.46%. However, Kolhapur's sugar output is not likely to rise sharply as only one mill in the region is currently operational. The division had 39 operational mills at the start of the season.  
 

Although Solapur division's throughput was largely on par with Kolhapur, sugar output lagged significantly due to a lower sugar recovery rate. Mills in Solapur crushed 21.5 million tonnes of sugarcane, but produced 1.85 million tonnes of sugar, with a recovery rate of 8.57%. Solhapur had 49 operational mills at the start of the season, the highest in the state. Of these, only 29 had shut for the season, data showed.  

In the Pune division, mills crushed 21.6 million tonnes of sugarcane and produced 2.13 million tonnes of sugar, with a recovery rate of 9.84%, the data showed. 

 

Though sugar production so far has registered a double-digit rise from a year ago, the All India Sugar Trade Association has raised concerns over unfavourable weather conditions in the state and cut its output estimates for the season ending September. For the current season, Maharashtra is expected to produce 9.9 million tonnes of sugar, down from 10.8 million tonnes projected in January. Last year, Maharashtra produced 8.1 million tonnes of sugar.  End

 

Edited by Tanima Banerjee

 

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