Sugar Production Rises 7 Percent in First Seven Months of Season

01-May-2026 10:35 AM

New Delhi. The latest data from the apex industry body—the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)—reveals that during the first seven months of the current marketing season (i.e., from October 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026), the country's sugar production rose to 275.28 lakh tonnes.

This figure is approximately 7 percent higher than the production of 256.49 lakh tonnes recorded during the corresponding period of the 2024-25 season. As of April 30, only five sugar mills in Tamil Nadu remained operational, while all other units across the rest of the country had ceased operations. Last year, on April 30, sugarcane crushing was still underway at 19 sugar mills.

According to ISMA's data, compared to the 2024-25 season, sugar production in Uttar Pradesh declined from 92.40 lakh tonnes to 89.65 lakh tonnes during the 2025-26 season, and all units in the state have now shut down. Sugarcane crushing has also concluded in Maharashtra and Karnataka; however, the sugar production scenario in these states remained more favorable.

In Maharashtra, sugar production surged from 80.93 lakh tonnes in the previous season to 99.20 lakh tonnes this season, while in Karnataka, it rose from 40.40 lakh tonnes to 48.01 lakh tonnes. While the figure for Maharashtra can be considered its final production output,

Karnataka is expected to hold a special sugarcane crushing session in the coming months; consequently, sugar production in the state may see some further improvement. It appears likely that the total production in Karnataka will exceed the 50 lakh tonnes mark.

Additionally, sugarcane crushing is also expected to take place at a few units in Tamil Nadu. Combined, these two states could potentially produce an additional 3–4 lakh tonnes of sugar. Thus, the gross sugar production for the entire 2025–26 marketing season (October–September) is projected to reach approximately 280 lakh tonnes.