As of November 16, 2023, a total of 133 sugar mills in Maharashtra have commenced sugarcane crushing for the 2023-24 season. This comprises 63 cooperative and 70 private sugar mills, resulting in a cane crushing of 61.53 lakh metric tonnes and sugar production of 43.83 lakh quintals in the state. Currently, the average sugar recovery in the state stands at 7.12 per cent.
In comparison, during the same period in the previous season, 174 sugar mills were operational and they had produced 97.25 lakh quintals of sugar by crushing 120.4 lakh tonnes of sugarcane.
The Solapur division in Maharashtra leads in the current season, with 35 sugar mills commencing crushing operations—the highest in any region. According to Sugar Commissionerate data, until November 16, 2023, the Solapur division has crushed 15.18 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, resulting in a production of 10.26 lakh quintals of sugar and a sugar recovery rate of 6.76 percent.
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.
