Sugar Industry: ₹5,000 crore cane dues, demand for MSP hike
19-Mar-2026 11:07 AM
Sugar Industry: ₹5,000 crore cane dues, demand for MSP hike
★ In Maharashtra, cane dues stood at about ₹4,898 crore as of February 28, up from ₹2,949 crore last year.
★ ISMA has demanded an increase in MSP due to rising costs and lower ex-mill realizations.
★ Sugar production in 2025-26 so far has reached 26.21 million tonnes (262.1 lakh tonnes), up 10.5% YoY.
★ State-wise output: Maharashtra 9.84 Mt (98.4 lakh tonnes), Uttar Pradesh 8.13 Mt (81.3 lakh tonnes), Karnataka 4.60 Mt (46 lakh tonnes).
★ As of March 15, 157 mills are operational while 379 mills have closed.
★ Rising costs and pending dues are pressuring the industry, making MSP revision necessary.