Sugarcane crushing season in Maharashtra reaches its final stage

25-Mar-2025 08:35 PM

Pune. Sugarcane crushing and sugar production season in Maharashtra has reached its final stage. During the current marketing season, sugarcane crushing had started in a total of 200 sugar mills,

out of which 182 units were closed by March 23 and sugarcane crushing was being done in limited quantity in only 18 plants.

Sugarcane crushing has ended in all the sugar mills in the three major divisions- Kolhapur, Solapur and Amravati.

According to official figures, this time the total production of sugar in Maharashtra till March 23 could not even reach 80 lakh tonnes and got stuck at 79.75 lakh tonnes.

There is no possibility of heavy production of sugar even in the 18 mills where sugarcane crushing is taking place.

Sugarcane crushing in Maharashtra fell from 1046.58 lakh tonnes last season to 843.33 lakh tonnes this time and the average recovery rate of sugar from sugarcane fell from 10.2 percent to 9.46 percent.

Sugar production declined further due to increased use of sugarcane in ethanol production. In the last season, till March 23 (2024), 106.75 lakh tonnes of sugar was produced in the state, compared to which this time the production has fallen by a huge 27 lakh tonnes.

This time the sugarcane crushing season is ending early because the mills are not getting the supply of raw material.

The sugarcane crushing capacity of many mills has increased, so whatever raw material they received was crushed quickly.

Maharashtra is considered to be the most prominent sugar producing state in India, but this time Uttar Pradesh can overtake it and reach the top level.

Karnataka will remain at number three in sugar production. However, in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka too, there are indications of a huge drop in sugar production this time as compared to the last season.