Maharashtra sugar season nears end; mills run for 110 days on average
Maharashtra’s sugar season nears closure with 183 of 210 mills shut, averaging ~110 operational days—below viable levels. Despite producing 98.8 lakh tonnes and leading output over Uttar Pradesh, the industry faces financial stress and rainfall concerns, highlighting ongoing challenges for mills and farmers.
The sugarcane crushing season in Maharashtra is entering its final stage, with most mills shutting operations even as the average duration of the season remains below economically viable levels, Maharashtra Times reported.
This year, mills operated for an average of around 110 days, higher than last year’s 83 days but still short of the 140–150 days required for financial sustainability. Industry concerns persist despite the longer season.
Out of 210 mills that participated in the current season, 183 have already stopped operations, leaving only a small number still running. The remaining mills are expected to close within the next 15 days. In comparison, about 78 mills in Uttar Pradesh are likely to continue operations until mid-April.
According to data from the Sugar Commissionerate, Maharashtra produced 98.8 lakh tonnes of sugar as of March 24. The Kolhapur region recorded the highest output at 23.1 lakh tonnes, followed by Pune at 22.1 lakh tonnes and Solapur at 18.9 lakh tonnes.
With this, Maharashtra has moved ahead of Uttar Pradesh to become the country’s top sugar producer this season. However, despite the increase in output compared to last year, production levels remain below average, and financial pressures on the industry continue.
The crushing season, which began on November 1, has so far seen 1,042.88 lakh tonnes of sugarcane processed. A total of 210 mills, including 103 cooperative and 107 private units, took part in the season, compared to 200 mills last year.
Across the country, Uttar Pradesh has produced 81.5 lakh tonnes of sugar, while Karnataka’s output stands at 45.8 lakh tonnes.
Looking ahead, concerns over lower rainfall forecasts could further impact the sector, adding to the challenges faced by sugar mills and farmers in the state.
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Source : Chinimandi
