Uncertainty remains in the next production of sugar
12-Jun-2025 08:06 PM
Mumbai. During the current marketing season (October-September) of 2024-25, domestic production of sugar fell sharply by about 58 lakh tonnes and uncertainty is also looming over the production of the 2025-26 season.
Although a cooperative organization has estimated the sugar production to increase to 350 lakh tonnes in the next season, but it is difficult to believe the reality right now. It is worth mentioning that for the 2024-25 season also,
satisfactory production of sugar was estimated in the initial stage and on this basis permission was sought from the government to export 10 lakh tonnes. When permission was granted in January 2025, industry organizations started reducing the estimate of sugar production.
India is also facing great difficulty in exporting sugar due to the soft international market prices. According to the report of All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA), 5.17 lakh tonnes of sugar was withdrawn from the mills for export purpose till 31 May 2025, which included 4.10 lakh tonnes of white sugar, 81,845 tonnes of refined sugar and 25,382 tonnes of raw sugar.
Apart from this, 21,000 tonnes of raw sugar was sent to refineries located in SEZ (Special Economic Zone) which is exported abroad.
Out of the total approved quantity of 10 lakh tonnes, only about 5.50 lakh tonnes of sugar has been exported so far, whereas by the end of the marketing season of 2024-25 on 30 September, a total of about 8 lakh tonnes of sugar can be exported.
This time the sowing area of cane is reported to have increased in Maharashtra and Karnataka and decreased in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar and Haryana as compared to last year.
At the national level, the area under cultivation is lagging behind last year, while the weather and monsoon have not yet been conducive for the sugarcane crop.
The weather of the next one or two months may prove to be decisive for the sugarcane crop and sugar production will depend on it to a large extent.