Maharashtra’s sugar season for 2024-25 has concluded on a grim note, with official data revealing a steep 26.6 per cent drop in sugar production compared to the previous year. Of the 200 operational sugar mills in the State, 199 have halted crushing operations, producing just 807.61 lakh quintals of sugar — down from 1,100.93 lakh quintals in 2023-24.
The decline in output is closely tied to a fall in sugarcane availability. The total quantity of cane crushed this season stood at 852.34 lakh tonnes (lt), marking a 20.6 per cent decrease from the 1,073.9 lt crushed last season.
More concerning is the drop in sugar recovery rate, which fell from approximately 1.025 quintals per tonne of cane in 2023-24 to 0.947 quintals this season. This suggests not only lower cane availability but also deteriorating cane quality or sub-optimal processing conditions, possibly due to erratic weather, water scarcity or delayed harvesting.
May pose challenges
The downturn is likely to affect stakeholders across the value chain — from farmers and millers to ethanol producers and traders.
The reduced output could tighten sugar supplies and impact prices in the coming months, while also posing challenges for ethanol blending targets under India’s clean energy goals.
As Maharashtra plays a pivotal role in the country’s sugar production landscape, the season’s performance is being closely watched by policymakers and industry players alike, especially in the context of changing climate conditions and the need for long-term resilience in the sugar sector.
Millers have demanded that the government must take note of the concerns expressed by the industry and help sugar mills to tackle the impending potential financial crisis.
Published on April 17, 2025
