India’s sugar production jumps 8.5-fold at the start of the 2026/27 season

India produced 845 thsd tons of sugar in the new MY 2026/27 as of October 31, 2026, an 8.5-fold increase from 100 thsd tons recorded during the corresponding period of the previous season. According to the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF), the sharp increase reflects a significantly earlier and more active start to the crushing season, particularly in Maharashtra.

By the end of October, 152 sugar mills had started operations across India, compared with just 31 a year earlier. Together, they crushed 10.543 mln tons of sugarcane, up from 1.184 mln tons during the corresponding period of the 2025/26 season. The sugar production figures exclude feedstock diverted to ethanol production.

Maharashtra remains the country’s leading sugar-producing region, with 123 mills operating compared with only two at the same point last year. Mills in the state had already crushed 9.114 mln tons of sugarcane and produced 720 thsd tons of sugar, accounting for approximately 85% of national output. The average sugar recovery rate in the state stood at 7.9%.

In Karnataka, seven mills were operating, having crushed 833 thsd tons of sugarcane and produced 80 thsd tons of sugar. In Tamil Nadu, seven mills produced 40 thsd tons, while ten mills in Gujarat produced 5 thsd tons. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, another major sugar-producing state, experienced a slower start to the season, with only three mills beginning operations compared with ten a year earlier. No sugar production volumes had been reported for the state as of the reporting date.

Despite the substantial increase in total production, India’s average sugar recovery rate currently stands at 8.01%, compared with 8.44% at the same point last season. The NFCSF emphasized that these figures are not directly comparable because crushing operations began significantly earlier in Maharashtra this year. In addition, some mills have only recently started operating, meaning their current recovery rates may not yet reflect normal production efficiency.

Tags: sugar, India