India's Sugar Output Reaches 21.98 Million Tonnes by February-End: ISMA
India's sugar production for the current season, which runs until September, has reached 21.98 million tonnes as of February 28, according to the Indian Sugar Mills & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). A total of 355 sugar mills are actively crushing cane across the country, the association reported.
State-Wise Production Breakdown:
- Maharashtra: 7.48 million tonnes
- Uttar Pradesh: 7.29 million tonnes
- Karnataka: 3.82 million tonnes
- Tamil Nadu (NSE:TNNP): 290,000 tonnes
- Gujarat: 682,000 tonnes
Trends in Sugar Recovery and Mill Operations
ISMA highlighted that sugar recovery rates in Uttar Pradesh have shown improvement and are now on par with the previous season. This development is expected to mitigate the lower recovery rates observed in the initial months of the season. The state faced challenges such as crop diseases like red rot and excessive rainfall in certain districts, which affected sugarcane yield and recovery.
In Maharashtra and Karnataka, the closure rate of sugar factories has accelerated in the past two weeks, with 141 mills shutting down operations. However, some mills in south Karnataka are expected to resume crushing in a special season from June to September 2025, contributing approximately 400,000–500,000 tonnes of additional sugar along with Tamil Nadu.
In Uttar Pradesh, 108 out of the 122 mills that began operations at the start of the season are still crushing cane. In Maharashtra, 114 out of 200 mills remain operational, while in Karnataka, only 23 out of 78 factories continue production.
Ethanol Diversion on the Rise
Ethanol production continues to rise, with mills diverting approximately 1.4 million tonnes of sugar for ethanol production as of January 31, compared to 830,000 tonnes during the same period last year. For the entire ethanol supply year ending in October, ISMA estimates that about 3.75 million tonnes of sugar will be diverted for ethanol production, significantly higher than the 2.15 million tonnes diverted last year.
The sugar industry remains dynamic, with ongoing shifts in production trends, ethanol-blending initiatives, and operational adjustments across states.