Heavy rain delays sugarcane crushing in West UP; prices rise by Rs 500 per quintal
Excessive monsoon rainfall has delayed sugarcane crushing in western Uttar Pradesh, with recovery in Bijnor falling around 1.5 percentage points year-on-year. Barkatpur mill recorded 8.5% recovery, while new-season sugar prices reached ₹5,400 per quintal. Only 19 of UP’s 122 mills have commenced operations.
Bijnor: Excessive monsoon rainfall has disrupted preparations for the new sugarcane crushing season in western Uttar Pradesh, delaying operations at several mills and pushing sugar prices up by nearly Rs 500-600 per quintal in the first fortnight of Nov.
The state govt had planned to start crushing around 15 days earlier than usual to ensure an early supply of fresh sugar and contain prices. However, excessive moisture in sugarcane has affected its sugar recovery, forcing mills to reassess their operational schedules.
Bijnor, the state’s second-largest sugarcane-producing district after Lakhimpur Kheri, is among the areas facing the impact. Preliminary assessments indicate that sugar recovery is around 1.5 percentage points lower than during the corresponding period last year. At Barkatpur sugar mill, recovery has been recorded at 8.5%, against the expected 10%.
Lower recovery means mills need to crush more sugarcane to produce the same quantity of sugar, increasing production costs and affecting profitability. Normally, at least 10 kg of sugar is extracted from a quintal of sugarcane.
The price of new-season sugar produced by Barkatpur mill has reached Rs 5,400 per quintal. Market observers said prices could remain high until fresh supplies increase, particularly as stocks from the previous crushing season continue to decline.
The situation is not confined to UP, with Maharashtra and Karnataka also reporting lower sugar recovery, raising concerns over overall availability.
Deputy Cane Commissioner, Saharanpur, OP Singh, said, “The district received nearly 1,400 mm of rainfall this year, against around 900 mm during the corresponding period last year, affecting sugar content in cane.”
“Despite the impact on sugar recovery, the overall condition of the crop is good. Sugarcane production is expected to increase, which could push up overall sugar output. Crop diseases have also been relatively low this year,” Singh said.
He added that 19 of UP’s 122 sugar mills had started crushing operations, while efforts were underway to ensure the remaining mills begin operations soon. The delayed start, he said, had also contributed to rising sugar prices.
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Source : The Times of India
