Sugar production has significantly declined due to a reduction in sugarcane crushing across India. The total crushing of sugarcane for the current season (2024-25) has dropped by 130.7 lakh tonnes, or 8.1%, compared to the same period in the previous season (2023-24).

This decline in crushing has led to a decrease in sugar production by 13.66%, from 151.2 lakh tonnes to 130.55 lakh tonnes.

Several factors are contributing to this drop. The number of sugar mills crushing sugarcane has decreased from 524 last season to 507 this season, a reduction of 17 mills. Additionally, the average recovery rate of sugar from sugarcane has fallen from 9.37% to 8.81%.

While sugarcane crushing in Uttar Pradesh increased slightly, from 465.66 lakh tonnes to 473.48 lakh tonnes, there were significant reductions in other major sugarcane-producing states.

Maharashtra saw a drop from 589.94 lakh tonnes to 489.20 lakh tonnes, Karnataka's crushing fell from 322.92 lakh tonnes to 318.82 lakh tonnes, and Gujarat experienced a decline from 51.09 lakh tonnes to 41.11 lakh tonnes.

As a result of these reductions, the share of the top three sugarcane-producing states—Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka—has risen slightly, from 85.47% last season to 86.46% this season, primarily because the overall national crushing has decreased.

The combined impact of reduced mill activity, fewer sugarcane units, and a lower recovery rate has led to a sharp decline in sugar production for this season.