Sugar Production Estimated to Contract to 28.3 Million Tonnes

17-Mar-2026 10:41 AM

Mumbai. The All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA)—the apex trade body for the sugar sector—had previously projected domestic sugar production for the current marketing season (October–September) of 2025–26 at 29.6 million tonnes;

this estimate has now been revised downward by 4.4 percent to 28.3 million tonnes. AISTA attributes this revision to adverse weather conditions, which prevented the expected increase in sugarcane yields this season.

Meanwhile, data from the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF)—the apex body for cooperative sugar mills—reveals that domestic sugar production in the country rose to 26.175 million tonnes during the period from October 1, 2025, to March 15, 2026.

This figure represents an increase of 2.46 million tonnes (or 10.37 percent) compared to the 23.715 million tonnes produced during the corresponding period of the previous season.

An interesting point to note is that while the Union Ministry of Agriculture has projected a robust increase in domestic sugarcane yields this season, the government's production estimates appear inconsistent when viewed against the limited supply currently being received by sugar mills.

Domestic sugar production has already reached a level equivalent to the total output of the entire 2024–25 season, even as sugarcane crushing operations remain ongoing at 173 mills.

Based on AISTA's projections, it is estimated that an additional 2.0 to 2.2 million tonnes of sugar could be produced in the coming period.