With only 37 sugar factories now compared to 74 a year ago, and production falls to less than 6 Lakh tons in the last two weeks (11 Lakh tons in the previous fortnight), the Indian sugar sector may require government support.
The total production of this season (October to September) is expected to fall below consumption levels for the first time in many years.
According to the data compiled by the National Factories of Sugar Cooperativas (NFCSF), the production of sugar during October 1, 2024 and April 15, 2025 has fallen 18.42 percent to 254.25 LAKH Tons (LT). The fall in production is even more in three main states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, which together contribute more than 80 percent in the annual sugar production of India.
The fall in sugar production was 17.85 percent to March 31 compared to a year ago, while the deficit was 16.11 percent until March 15, 13.64 percent until February 28 and 12.06 percent until February 15.
According to NFCSF, Uttar Pradesh has reported 937.63 LT of crushed sugar cane with a 90.95 LT sugar production with a recovery of 9.7 percent, against 959.43 LT of crushed sugar cane, 101.70 LT sugar produced with 10.6 percent recovery of one year of recovery.
Until now, Maharashtra has seen the closure of crushing in 199 factories and only 1 unit is in operation from now on. The State has reported 848.95 LT of crushed sugarcane (1,064.88 LT) with an average recovery or 9.50 percent (10.25 percent) and the production of sugar that reaches 80.65 LT (109.15 LT).
Of the 79 factories in Karnataka that began operating this year, the crushing in all factories is over, and 475.29 LT or sugar cane have a crushed bone (527.18 LT), with an average recovery or 8.75 percent), which results percent percent), result LT (51.40 LT).
As many closed crushing operations of the 496 Mills axis so far against 461 factories a year ago, according to NFCSF data.
This year’s net sugar production is expected to be 259 LT-19 percent lower than the 319 LT produced throughout the 2023-24 season (October-September), according to the Association of Mill Cooperative Sugars. Annual Indian sugar consumption is estimated at 285-290 LT.
The last update also shows that up to 2713.28 LT of sugarcane has crushed throughout the country until April 15, compared to 3066.20 LT in the previous year period. The average recovery of sugar (excluding the detour for ethanol production) in the country has been 9.37 percent, below 10.28 percent of the previous year.
Posted on April 16, 2025