Domestic Sugar Output Capped at 258.20 Lakh Tonnes

31-Jul-2025 05:51 PM

New Delhi. The apex organization of cooperative sugar mills - National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories has said that domestic production of sugar during the 2024-25 season till July has declined by 18.38 percent as compared to the 2023-24 season and got stuck at 258.20 lakh tonnes.

A special session of sugarcane crushing is going on in southern Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, in view of which the Federation has estimated the total production of sugar to reach 261.100 lakh tonnes in the entire marketing season of 2024-25, but still it will be far behind the total production of 319 lakh tonnes of the 2023-24 season.

This time seven sugar mills have become active in Karnataka for crushing sugarcane, whereas last year only 1 mill was operational. On the other hand, in Tamil Nadu, last year 11 sugar mills had crushed sugarcane, whereas this time the number of operational units could reach only 9.

According to the Federation, during the 2024-25 season, compared to the previous season, sugar production fell from 103.60 lakh tonnes to 92.70 lakh tonnes, from 110 lakh tonnes to 80.90 lakh tonnes in Maharashtra and from 51.60 lakh tonnes to 40.60 lakh tonnes in Karnataka.

Due to reduced supply and availability of sugarcane, adverse weather conditions, increased use of sugarcane in ethanol production and damage to the crop due to diseases and insects, there was a huge decline in sugar production.

In a notable development, the target of blending 20 percent ethanol in petrol in the year 2025 was achieved. On July 23, approval was given to set up multi feed distilleries in the entire state in Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, the Central Government has set a target of blending 30 percent ethanol in petrol by the year 2030. The ex-factory price of sugar is currently around Rs 3900 per quintal. The new marketing season for sugarcane crushing and sugar production will formally begin from October 2025.