As the season progresses, sugar mills in Maharashtra have started to end their sugarcane crushing operations. According to the Sugar Commissionerate report, as of February 3, 2025, nine sugar mills have shut down their operations. These include mainly mills from the Solapur region (7 mills) and the Nanded region (2 mills). In comparison, during the same period last season, only 5 mills had ended their operations.
Sugar production in Maharashtra for the ongoing 2024-25 season has reached 586.08 lakh quintals (approximately 58.60 lakh tonnes), a decline from the 698.94 lakh quintals produced during the same period last season. Currently, 191 mills are engaged in sugarcane crushing operations, while nine mills have concluded the crushing season. As of February 3, statewide mills have crushed 644.76 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, compared to 724.44 lakh tonnes crushed during the same period last season. The state’s overall sugar recovery rate stands at 9.09%, lower than the 9.65% rate achieved during the same period in previous season.
According to industry experts, mills have ended operations earlier this season due to low yield and the enhancement of crushing capacity.
Sugar production in the state is down compared to the previous season due to delays in the commencement of the crushing season, diversion of sugar towards ethanol production, and a reduction in yield.
In the Pune division, 151.13 lakh tonnes of sugarcane have been crushed, resulting in the production of 138.26 lakh quintals of sugar, with an average recovery rate of 9.15%. This division has 31 mills in operation, comprising 18 cooperative mills and 13 private mills.
The Kolhapur division, with 40 operational mills (26 cooperative and 14 private), has crushed 157.17 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, yielding 168.99 lakh quintals of sugar. This division has recorded the highest recovery rate in the state, at 10.75%.
In Solapur, 45 mills were operational, including 17 cooperative mills and 28 private mills. Among them, seven sugar mills have ended their crushing season. The mills in Solapur have processed 112.09 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 88.32 lakh quintals of sugar, with a recovery rate of 7.88%.
The Ahilya Nagar (Ahmednagar) division has 26 mills in operation, with 14 cooperative mills and 12 private mills. These mills have crushed 82.48 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, resulting in the production of 70.19 lakh quintals of sugar, with a recovery rate of 8.51%.
In Nanded, 29 mills, comprising 9 cooperative and 20 private mills, have crushed 73.01 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 67.94 lakh quintals of sugar, with a recovery rate of 9.31%. Two sugar mills have ended their operations in the ongoing season.
In the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division, 22 mills (13 cooperative and 9 private) have crushed 59.79 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 45.2 lakh quintals of sugar.
In the Amravati division, 4 sugar mills are engaged operations, including 1 cooperative and 3 private mills. These mills have crushed 7.25 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 6.24 lakh quintals of sugar. In Nagpur division, three sugar mills are involved in crushing operations this season.
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