Sugar stocks estimated to be 5.3 million tonnes at the end of the current marketing season

26-Feb-2026 12:49 PM

New Delhi. The sugar balance sheet announced by the apex industry body, the Indian Sugar and Bioenergy Manufacturing Association (ISMA), in its third production estimate for the current marketing season 2025-26, shows that the industry will have a surplus stock of approximately 5.3 million tonnes at the end of the current season, i.e.,

September 30, 2026, which is only 0.3 million tonnes more than the 5 million tonnes available at the end of September 2025. This is despite ISMA projecting sugar exports to be limited to only 0.7 million tonnes and domestic consumption to be 28.3 million tonnes.

According to ISMA's report, during the 2025-26 season, with a carryover stock of 5 million tonnes and production of 29.3 million tonnes, the total sugar availability will reach 34.3 million tonnes, of which 28.3 million tonnes will be used for domestic consumption and 7 million tonnes for export, leaving a remaining stock of 5.3 million tonnes at the end of the season.

ISMA has estimated a total sugar production of 32.4 million tonnes, assuming 3.1 million tonnes are used for ethanol production, leaving a stock of 29.3 million tonnes for food purposes. The above data suggests that the sugar market may once again become complex. If exports and domestic consumption increase, the outstanding stock may decrease.