Sugar production limited to 257.40 lakh tonnes till mid-May

15-May-2025 08:35 PM

New Delhi. According to the latest data from the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories, the apex body of government sugar mills, sugar production in India during the current marketing season from October 1, 2024 to May 15, 2025, reached only 257.40 lakh tonnes.

This is 58 lakh tonnes or 18.39 percent lower than the 315.40 lakh tonnes produced during the same period in the 2023-24 season.

Sugar production fell across major producing states. In Uttar Pradesh, production dropped from 103.65 lakh tonnes to 92.75 lakh tonnes.

In Maharashtra, it decreased significantly from 110.20 lakh tonnes to 80.95 lakh tonnes, and in Karnataka, it declined from 51.40 lakh tonnes to 40.40 lakh tonnes.

Tamil Nadu’s output reduced from 8.75 lakh tonnes to 4.95 lakh tonnes, and Gujarat saw a minor fall from 9.20 lakh tonnes to 8.90 lakh tonnes.

Other states including Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana also saw slight reductions, while Uttarakhand recorded a small increase.

As of May 15, only four sugar mills were operational across the country—three in Tamil Nadu and one in Uttar Pradesh. Last year, by the same date, five mills were still active in Tamil Nadu while the rest had shut operations.

Nationally, sugarcane crushing during this period fell from 3122.61 lakh tonnes to 2767.75 lakh tonnes, a decrease of 354.87 lakh tonnes or 11.36 percent. The average recovery rate of sugar from cane also dropped from 10.10 percent to 9.30 percent.

The Federation has projected total sugar production for the entire marketing season (October 2024 to September 2025) at 261.10 lakh tonnes,

which is 57.90 lakh tonnes or 18.15 percent lower than the revised estimate of 319 lakh tonnes for 2023-24. Special sessions of sugarcane crushing are scheduled in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during July to September.