Sugar production in Maharashtra expected to decline next season

12-Mar-2026 03:58 PM

Pune. Although Maharashtra saw good sugar production during the current 2025-26 marketing season, the industry's performance is expected to be disappointing in the 2026-27 marketing season (October-September).

Maharashtra's Cooperative Minister says that drought-like conditions are likely to prevail in most parts of the state during the upcoming Kharif season.

This is expected to significantly impact the sugarcane crop. The lack of sugarcane will make it difficult to operate many sugar mills in the state. The financial crisis of sugar mills may also worsen.

During the current 2025-26 marketing season, sugarcane was crushed in a total of 210 sugar mills in Maharashtra, including 103 in the cooperative sector and 107 in the private sector.

According to the Cooperative Minister, while the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane has been steadily increasing over the past six years,

the ex-factory minimum selling price (EXMP) for sugar has remained stagnant at ₹3,100 per quintal since 2019.

This has significantly increased the difficulties faced by sugar mills. This year, the country is also expected to experience an El Niño storm.