Domestic Sugar Production Surpasses 262 Lakh Tonnes

18-Mar-2026 10:48 AM

New Delhi. The apex body of the indigenous sugar industry—the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)—states that during the first five and a half months of the current marketing season (i.e., from October 1, 2025, to March 15, 2026), domestic sugar production rose to 262.10 lakh tonnes.

This figure represents a 10.50 percent increase compared to the production recorded during the corresponding period in the 2024-25 season.

Prior to this, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories had reported that domestic sugar production during this same period had increased by 10.37 percent, reaching 261.75 lakh tonnes.

According to ISMA, a total of 261.20 lakh tonnes of sugar was produced in the country during the entire 2024-25 marketing season; notably, the production for the 2025-26 season has already surpassed that figure, and sugarcane crushing remains underway at numerous sugar mills.

The leading trade body for the sugar trade—the All India Sugar Trade Association—had previously projected a sugar production of 296 lakh tonnes for the current 2025-26 marketing season.

This estimate has now been revised downward by 4.4 percent (or 13 lakh tonnes) to stand at 283 lakh tonnes.

According to ISMA, as of March 15, 2026, 379 sugar mills across the country had ceased operations, while sugarcane crushing continued at the remaining 157 units. By March 15 of the previous year, the country had produced 237.20 lakh tonnes of sugar. This season, production has witnessed a significant surge in the state of Maharashtra.