Sugar production reaches 22.5 million tonnes

17-Feb-2026 12:03 PM

New Delhi. The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), the apex industry body, says that domestic sugar production increased to 22.5 million tonnes in the first four and a half months of the current marketing season, from October 1, 2025, to February 15, 2026, representing a 14 percent increase over the same period in the 2024-25 season. However, the number of operational sugar mills has declined from 460 last year to 456 this time.

Sugar production in Maharashtra jumped 32 percent during the period under review, reaching nearly 9 million tonnes. Sugarcane crushing is taking place vigorously, and the average sugar recovery rate from sugarcane is also increasing. As of February 15 last year, 170 units were crushing sugarcane in the state, while 182 sugar mills are operational this year.

Similarly, sugar production in Karnataka, another major sugar producing state, has increased from 3.6 million tons last year to 4.1 million tons this year. Sugarcane crushing is currently underway at 52 sugar mills in the state, up from 50 last year.

A combined 55 sugar mills have closed in Maharashtra and Karnataka during the current season, compared to 58 last year. This indicates that the supply of sugarcane to sugar mills there is increasing compared to last year.

It is noteworthy that some mills in southern Karnataka will crush sugarcane at a special level from June-July to September 2026, enabling additional sugar production. Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh also improved by 3 percent to reach approximately 6.6 million tons, but the number of operational sugar mills there has declined from 119 last year to 111 this year.