In the ongoing 2024-25 crushing season, 53 sugar mills have ended operations in Maharashtra. These mills are from Kolhapur, Solapur, Nanded, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ahilyanagar regions.
According to a report from the Sugar Commissionerate, as of February 24, a total of 53 sugar mills have ended their operations in Maharashtra. This includes 36 mills in Solapur, five in Nanded, six mills in Kolhapur, four mills in Pune, each mill in the Ahilyanagar and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar region. During the same period last season, only 17 mills had closed in the state.
Sugar production in Maharashtra for the ongoing 2024-25 season has reached 733.1 lakh quintals (approximately 73.31 lakh tonnes), marking a decline from the 888.08 lakh quintals produced during the same period last season. Currently, 147 mills are engaged in sugarcane crushing operations, while 53 mills have concluded their crushing season. As of February 24, statewide mills have crushed 786.02 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, compared to 891.97 lakh tonnes crushed during the same period last season. The state’s overall sugar recovery rate stands at 9.33%, lower than the 9.96% rate achieved during the same period last season.
According to industry experts, mills have ended operations earlier this season due to low yields and increased crushing capacity.
Sugar production in the state is lower compared to the previous season due to delays in the commencement of the crushing season, the diversion of sugarcane toward ethanol production, and a reduction in yield.
