Sugar mills in major regions of Maharashtra, including Kolhapur, Solapur, Nanded, Pune, and Ahilyanagar, have begun ending their sugarcane crushing operations. However, mills in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, and Nagpur regions have yet to conclude their crushing operations.
According to a report from the Sugar Commissionerate, as of February 20, a total of 38 sugar mills have ended their operations in Maharashtra. This includes 25 mills in Solapur, five in Nanded, four mills in Kolhapur, three mills in Pune, and one mill in the Ahilyanagar region. During the same period last season, only 11 mills had closed in the state.
Sugar production in Maharashtra for the ongoing 2024-25 season has reached 709.23 lakh quintals (approximately 70.92 lakh tonnes), marking a decline from the 853.71 lakh quintals produced during the same period last season. Currently, 162 mills are engaged in sugarcane crushing operations, while 38 mills have concluded their crushing season. As of February 20, statewide mills have crushed 763.53 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, compared to 861.91 lakh tonnes crushed during the same period last season. The state’s overall sugar recovery rate stands at 9.29%, lower than the 9.9% 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.
