Sugar output reaches 8.45 LMT by October 31 as crushing gains pace: NFCSF
India produced 8.45 lakh tonnes of sugar by October 31 in the 2026-27 season, compared with 1 lakh tonne a year earlier, as 152 mills began operations. Maharashtra led production with 7.2 lakh tonnes, while national sugar recovery stood at 8.01%, slightly below last season’s 8.44%.
Sugar mills across India produced 8.45 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of sugar in the 2026-27 season up to October 31, 2026, compared with 1 LMT at the same point last season, according to data released by the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF).
The federation’s state-wise crushing report shows that 152 mills had started operations by October 31, against 31 a year earlier. Together, they crushed 105.43 LMT of sugarcane, compared with 11.84 LMT in the same period of the 2025-26 season. The sugar production figures exclude sugar diverted for ethanol, the report noted.
Maharashtra accounts for most of this early activity. According to NFCSF, 123 mills are operating in the state, against just two at this time last season. They have crushed 91.14 LMT of cane and produced 7.2 LMT of sugar, at an average recovery of 7.9 per cent.
In Karnataka, 7 mills are crushing, compared with 17 a year ago. They have crushed 8.33 LMT of cane and produced 0.8 LMT of sugar, against 7.07 LMT and 0.7 LMT last season. The state’s recovery stands at 9.6 per cent, compared with 9.9 per cent earlier.
Uttar Pradesh, the country’s other major producer, has made a slow start. Three mills have started operations, against 10 last season, but the report shows no cane crushed or sugar produced so far. By this time last year, mills in the state had crushed 2.5 LMT of cane and produced 0.1 LMT of sugar.
Among other states, Tamil Nadu’s 7 mills have crushed 4.71 LMT of cane and produced 0.4 LMT of sugar, at a recovery of 8.5 per cent. Gujarat’s 10 mills have crushed 1.25 LMT and produced 0.05 LMT. Two mills have started in Telangana but have yet to report any crushing. Mills in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand have not yet begun the season.
The national average sugar recovery stands at 8.01 per cent, slightly below 8.44 per cent at this point last season. NFCSF said the figures are not directly comparable because many Maharashtra mills began crushing earlier this season. It added that some mills started only recently, so their production and recovery figures may not yet reflect normal levels.
According to the report, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka together account for 94.67 per cent of the sugar produced so far this season. In the 2025-26 season, India’s actual net sugar production was 279.6 LMT, with the three states contributing 85.19 per cent.
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Source : ChiniMandi
