This year, India's sugar production is estimated to fall by 39 lakh tonnes as compared to last year. In the current sugar season (2024-25), the country's sugar production is estimated to be 280 lakh tonnes, whereas last year 319 lakh tonnes of sugar was produced. A major reason for the decline in production is the low sugar recovery in Uttar Pradesh. Along with this, these estimates have been made on the basis of various factors like sugarcane area, crop condition, sugar recovery and diversion of sugar for ethanol in sugar producing states.
According to industry sources, crushing has started in Uttar Pradesh in the maximum number of sugar mills so far. Crushing has started in 85 sugar mills there by November 15, whereas last year crushing started in 75 mills till the said date. Till November 15, 3.50 lakh tonnes of sugar has been produced in the state, which was 3.40 lakh tonnes by this time last year. Here the sugar recovery level was 8.6% last year which has come down to 7.85% this year. Based on the current trend, sugar production in Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be 98 lakh tons which was 103.65 lakh tons last year.
Sugar mills have not started crushing in the second largest sugar producing state Maharashtra yet but based on the parameters kept in the production estimate, sugar production is estimated to be 87 lakh tons this year. Last year, 110.20 lakh tons of sugar was produced in Maharashtra. Sugar production in the third largest sugar producing state Karnataka is estimated to be 45 lakh tons which was 53 lakh tons last year.
According to the report prepared by the industry, till November 15, crushing is going on in 144 sugar mills across the country and they have produced 7.10 lakh tons of sugar. Last year by this time, crushing had started in 264 sugar mills and sugar production had reached at 12.70 lakh tonnes.
According to sources, these figures and estimates of sugar production have been prepared on the basis of industry information, government information and data collected at the ground level.