Most Sugar Mills Likely to Shut Down by End of April

21-Apr-2025 08:44 PM

New Delhi. In the ongoing 2024–25 sugar marketing season (October–September), crushing operations began in 534 sugar mills nationwide. As of April 15, 496 of these mills had already ceased operations.

Out of the 38 mills still running, 22 are in Uttar Pradesh—16 in the western region and 6 in other parts of the state—operating at limited capacity due to low sugarcane availability.

According to the Indian Sugar and Bio Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), most of these remaining mills are expected to shut down by the end of April, with all mills likely to close before mid-May.

In Maharashtra, of the 200 units that started crushing this season, only one mill in Pune district remains operational, and it may also close shortly.

Karnataka’s mills have already stopped operations, although a special sugarcane crushing session is scheduled there between July and September 2025.

From October 2024 to mid-April 2025, sugar production has reached about 254 lakh tonnes. With only 38 mills still running, significant additions to this figure appear unlikely.

ISMA has forecasted total production at 264 lakh tonnes, while the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) estimates 259 lakh tonnes, and the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) projects 254 lakh tonnes. Given current trends, ISMA's target seems difficult to achieve, while the Federation’s estimate appears more realistic.