Pune: As of November 29, 2023, a total of 172 sugar mills in Maharashtra have commenced sugarcane crushing for the 2023-24 season. This comprises 84 cooperative and 88 private sugar mills, resulting in a cane crushing of 161.86 lakh metric tonnes and sugar production of 126.75 lakh quintals in the state. Currently, the average sugar recovery in the state stands at 7.83 per cent.
In comparison, during the same period in the previous season, 188 sugar mills were operational and they had produced 196.47 lakh quintals of sugar by crushing 226.11 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.
The Solapur division in Maharashtra leads in the current season, with 42 sugar mills commencing crushing operations—the highest in any region. According to Sugar Commissionerate data, until November 29, 2023, the Solapur division has crushed 37.07 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, resulting in a production of 26.86 lakh quintals of sugar and a sugar recovery rate of 7.2 per cent.
Not a single mill has started the crushing season in the Nagpur division. The Amravati division has the lowest number of mills initiating crushing operations, with only 2 sugar mills starting the season.
