Pune: As of December 05, 2023, a total of 180 sugar mills in Maharashtra have commenced sugarcane crushing for the 2023-24 season. This comprises 84 cooperative and 92 private sugar mills, resulting in a cane crushing of 204.44 lakh metric tonnes and sugar production of 163.56 lakh quintals in the state. Currently, the average sugar recovery in the state stands at 8 per cent.
In comparison, during the same period in the previous season, 192 sugar mills were operational and they had produced 246.64 lakh quintals of sugar by crushing 278.2 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.
The Solapur division in Maharashtra leads in the current season, with 44 sugar mills commencing crushing operations—the highest in any region. According to Sugar Commissionerate data, until December 05, 2023, the Solapur division has crushed 47.28 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, resulting in a production of 34.95 lakh quintals of sugar and a sugar recovery rate of 7.39 per cent.
The Amravati division has the lowest number of mills initiating crushing operations, with only 2 sugar mills starting the season.
