Maharashtra, India’s leading sugar-producing state, Maharashtra, is experiencing a notable decline in sugarcane crushing compared to the previous season, with consequential effects on sugar production. As of December 18, 2023, the state has witnessed a decrease of 75.25 lakh metric tonnes in sugarcane crushing compared to the same period last season. This downturn is also reflected in the sugar output, registering a decline of 88.08 lakh quintals during the same timeframe.
According to the Sugar Commissioner’s office, in the ongoing crushing season 2023-24, a total of 191 sugar mills in Maharashtra have commenced operations as of December 18, 2023. Of these, 93 are cooperative mills, while 98 are private mills, collectively completing the crushing of 316.48 lakh tonnes of sugarcane. The state has produced approximately 270.34 lakh quintals (27.03 lakh tonnes) of sugar so far, with the current average sugar recovery rate standing at 8.54 percent.
In comparison, during the same date in the previous season, 196 sugar mills were operational, crushing 391.73 lakh tonnes of sugarcane and yielding a sugar output of 358.42 lakh quintals.
Solapur division in Maharashtra leads the current crushing season with 45 sugar mills actively processing sugarcane. According to the Sugar Commissioner’s data, as of December 18, 2023, Solapur has crushed approximately 69.73 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 54.87 lakh quintals of sugar, with a sugar recovery rate of 7.87 percent.
Conversely, the Amravati division in the state has witnessed the least activity, with only two sugar mills initiating the crushing process.
