More Stories

Informist, Wednesday, Apr. 15, 2026

NEW DELHI – Mills in India produced 27.4 million tonnes of sugar as of mid April, up 7.7% on year, in the 2025-26 sugar season started October, according to data from the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories. Sugar production rose as mills crushed 5.6% more sugarcane so far this year and the recovery rate improved to 9.56% from 9.37% last year. 

All sugar mills have now closed operations in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Twenty one mills remained operational across the country with nine in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Tamil Nadu, and one in Haryana, the federation data showed.

On the same date last year, India had 35 operational mills, indicating an earlier closure this year. At the start of the crushing season, 541 mills were operational, compared with 534 units last year. Going ahead, mills in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will be operational for their special season starting from June or July. 

Sugar production in Maharashtra rose 23% on year to nearly 9.9 million tonnes as of Wednesday. The state's production rose as sugarcane crushing increased 23% to 104.4 million tonnes, coupled with a good sugar recovery rate at 9.5%. Maharashtra had no mills running on date, compared with one mill a year ago.

Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh was 8.9 million tonnes, 2% down from 9.1 million tonnes at the same time last year. This was despite the state reporting one of the highest average sugar recovery rates at 10.20%, up from 9.70% last year. There were nine operational mills in the state, down from 22 mills operating at the same time last year. 

Sugar production was down due to a lower availability of sugarcane in the state amid various issues. Mills crushed only 87.5 million tonne sugarcane, down nearly 7% on year, as the widely used Co-0238 cane variety, which offered high yields for several years, has lost its edge after it became prone to diseases caused by red rot fungal infection. 

In Karnataka, sugar production was nearly 4.7 million tonnes, up 17% from 4.0 million tonnes a year ago. The state had no mills running in the state similar to last year. The average sugar recovery rate in the state rose to 8.60% from 8.50% last year, the federation said.  End

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Akul Nishant Akhoury

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.