2024-25 Season: Sugar mills in Kolhapur start ending sugarcane crushing operations; 2 mills closed
Sugar mills in Maharashtra are closing operations earlier in the 2024-25 season due to low yield and increased crushing capacity. As of February 17, 28 mills have shut down, including 22 in Solapur, four in Nanded, and two in Kolhapur. Sugar production has declined to 691.27 lakh quintals from 826.87 lakh quintals last season, with a lower recovery rate of 9.26%.
After Solapur and Nanded, sugar mills in Kolhapur have also started concluding their crushing operations for the ongoing 2024-25 season.
According to the Sugar Commissionerate report, as of February 17, a total of 28 sugar mills have ended their operations in Maharashtra. This includes 22 mills in Solapur, four in Nanded, and two mills in Kolhapur. During the same period in the previous season, only nine mills had closed in the state.
Sugar production in Maharashtra for the ongoing 2024-25 season has reached 691.27 lakh quintals (approximately 69.12 lakh tonnes), marking a decline from the 826.87 lakh quintals produced during the same period last season. Currently, 172 mills are engaged in sugarcane crushing operations, while 28 mills have concluded their crushing season. As of February 17, statewide mills have crushed 746.38 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, compared to 838.32 lakh tonnes crushed during the same period last season. The state’s overall sugar recovery rate stands at 9.26%, lower than the 9.86% rate achieved during the same period last season.
According to industry experts, mills have ended operations earlier this season due to low yield 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.
In Solapur, 45 mills were operational, including 17 cooperative mills and 28 private mills. Among them, 22 sugar mills have ended their crushing season. The mills in Solapur have processed 125.59 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 100.94 lakh quintals of sugar, with a recovery rate of 8.04%.
In Nanded, 29 mills, comprising 10 cooperative and 19 private mills, have crushed 85.55 lakh tonnes of sugarcane, producing 80.95 lakh quintals of sugar, with a recovery rate of 9.46%. Four sugar mills have ended their operations in the ongoing season.
In Kolhapur, 40 mills have participated in the operations this season, of which 38 mills are still crushing sugarcane. Mills in the region have crushed 183.83 lakh tonnes of cane to produce 200.65 lakh quintals of sugar, with a recovery rate of 10.91%
To read more about Sugar Industry continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Chinimandi
