Kharif Outlook. India’s sugarcane harvest poised to be sweet in 2025-26
India’s sugarcane production in 2025-26 is projected at 487 million tonnes, up 8% from 450.12 mt in 2024-25, supported by high yields (85 t/ha) and 57.31 lakh hectares under cultivation. Adequate water and good crop conditions favor growth, with crushing expected from October 15, while Maharashtra and Karnataka offset area decline in Uttar Pradesh.
India’s sugarcane production may reach about 487 million tonnes (mt) in 2025-26, considering the current crop conditions after taking the highest yield of 85 tonne/hectare in the last five years in account, and the acreage of 57.31 lakh hectares (lh). If that level of production is achieved, it will be 8 per cent more than 450.12 mt achieved in 2024-25.
“The crop looks very good at present, there is no threat and if some rainfall happens in winter, that will help sugarcane. There is no concern on getting irrigation water as dams are also full,” said B B Thombare, president of Western India Sugar Mills Association (WISMA). Thombare, who is also Chairman and Managing Director of Natural Sugar & Allied Industries of Maharashtra, said that mills have requested the State government to allow starting of crushing from October 15.
Maharashtra, along with Karnataka, will help the sugar sector amid a drop in area in the largest sugarcane-producing state, Uttar Pradesh. In the 2024-25 sugar season (October-September), the estimated sugar production of 26.1 mt dropped below the annual domestic consumption of 28 mt. But due to a robust carryover stock of nearly 8 mt from the 2023-24 season, there was no issue. Rather, India exported 0.8 mt of sugar.
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Source : The Hindu Business line
