With the ongoing sugarcane crushing season in many regions entering its final phase, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited (NFCSF) has reduced its projection for sugar production.
According to the NFCSF, sugar production for the 2024-25 season is estimated to reach 265 lakh tonnes, lower than the previous estimate of 270 lakh tonnes. In the previous season, sugar production was 319 lakh tonnes.
According to data released by the NFCSF, as of February 28, 2025, crushing for the 2024-25 season is underway in 347 sugar mills across the country. A total of 2386.56 lakh tonnes of sugarcane have been crushed, resulting in the production of 219.95 lakh tonnes of sugar. In comparison, during the same period in the previous season, 461 sugar mills were operational, and crushing had reached 2559.64 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, yielding 254.70 lakh tonnes of sugar.
The sugar recovery rate in the country is lower than in the previous season. As of February 28, 2025, the average sugar recovery rate stands at 9.22%, compared to 9.95% during the same period in the previous season.
As per NFCSF data, in terms of state-wise production, mills in Maharashtra have crushed 801.07 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 74.90 lakh tonnes of sugar.
In Uttar Pradesh, sugar mills have crushed 766.14 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, yielding 72.40 lakh tonnes of sugar. Sugar production in Karnataka has reached 38.30 lakh tonnes after crushing 450.59 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, according to the sugar body.
According to industry experts, mills in Maharashtra have ended operations earlier this season due to low yields and increased crushing capacity.
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