India's sugar production has reached 254.97 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 season so far, according to a release issued by Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association on Thursday.
The sugar season in India starts in October and ends in September of the next calendar year. As per the data shared by the association, there were 38 sugar factories operating in the country as of April 15.
Around 35 lakh tonnes of sugar are projected to be used for ethanol production this year, compared to 21.5 lakh tonnes last year, it said.
Uttar Pradesh topped sugar production with 91.1 lakh tonnes, followed by Maharashtra with 80.76 lakh tonnes and Karnataka with 40.40 lakh tonnes, as per the release.
In Uttar Pradesh, 22 factories remain operational, with around 16 of them located in West Uttar Pradesh. These factories are likely to continue operating until late April or the first week of May 2025, ISMA said. Additionally, sugar recovery has improved in the latter half of the season, leading to higher sugar output, it added.
Meanwhile, some factories in South Karnataka are expected to restart during the special season, from June or July to September 2025. Historically, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu together produce around 4-5 lakh tonnes of sugar during this special season, it further said.
Optimistic Outlook For 2025–26 Season
The sugarcane planting for 2025-26 season showed improvement in major states including Maharashtra and Karnataka. As a result, the crushing season is expected to start in October 2025, ISMA said.
In Uttar Pradesh and other northern areas, ongoing efforts to replace sugarcane varieties are showing promising results. These improvements are likely to boost cane yield and sugar recovery rates, the release added.
The weather agencies have predicted a normal southwest monsoon for 2025, which will support sugarcane growth and potentially lead to increased output in 2025–26 season, the association further said.
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