In the ongoing 2024-25 crushing season, 44 sugar mills have ended operations. These mills are from Kolhapur, Solapur, Nanded, Pune, and Ahilyanagar regions.
According to a report from the Sugar Commissionerate, as of February 23, a total of 44 sugar mills have ended their operations in Maharashtra. This includes 29 mills in Solapur, five in Nanded, five mills in Kolhapur, four mills in Pune, and one mill in the Ahilyanagar region. During the same period last season, only 15 mills had closed in the state.
Sugar production in Maharashtra for the ongoing 2024-25 season has reached 728.67 lakh quintals (approximately 72.86 lakh tonnes), marking a decline from the 879.6 lakh quintals produced during the same period last season. Currently, 156 mills are engaged in sugarcane crushing operations, while 44 mills have concluded their crushing season. As of February 23, statewide mills have crushed 781.82 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, compared to 884.6 lakh tonnes crushed during the same period last season. The state’s overall sugar recovery rate stands at 9.32%, lower than the 9.94% 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.
