News Capsule: Sugar Mills Unlikely to Advance Crushing Season Despite Government Assurance
14-Aug-2026 10:12 AM
News Capsule: Sugar Mills Unlikely to Advance Crushing Season Despite Government Assurance
★ Most sugar mills are unlikely to advance the upcoming sugarcane crushing season by 10–15 days to October, despite assurances given to the government to help ease record-high sugar prices. The main hurdle is a shortage of migrant labour, which is generally available only around Diwali in November. Mechanised harvesting remains limited and cannot fully compensate for the labour shortage.
★ Industry bodies ISMA and the National Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation had assured the government that mills would begin crushing 10–15 days earlier, subject to agro-climatic conditions. However, industry officials say early crushing may be difficult under current circumstances.
★ The government has discussed incentives to encourage mills to start early, including higher sugar sales quotas for October or allowing mills to sell all sugar produced during October.
★ If mills fail to advance crushing, the arrival of fresh sugar supplies could be delayed, potentially keeping prices firm in the near term.