India’s sugar production has jumped sharply in the early part of the 2025–26 season, reaching 19.5 million tonnes by January 31, according to the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA). This marks an 18.35% increase compared to 16.47 million tonnes produced during the same period last year.
The rise has been driven mainly by higher output in major sugar-producing states such as Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, along with faster crushing operations. India’s sugar season runs from October to September.
As of January 31, 515 sugar mills were operating across the country, slightly more than the 501 mills running at the same time last year, indicating improved momentum in cane crushing.
Maharashtra, India’s largest sugar producer, posted the biggest jump. The state produced 7.87 million tonnes of sugar, up 42% year-on-year, with 206 mills currently operational compared to 190 last season.
Uttar Pradesh, the second-largest producer, reported sugar production of 5.51 million tonnes, about 5% higher than last year, supported by steady cane supply and smooth crushing operations.
In Karnataka, the third-largest producing state, sugar output increased by around 15% compared to the same period last season.
Looking ahead, ISMA expects net sugar production for the full 2025–26 season to rise 18.6% to 30.95 million tonnes, up from 26.1 million tonnes in the previous season. The growth is attributed to better cane yields and improved recovery rates.
However, ISMA noted that ongoing government policies promoting ethanol blending and bio-energy will continue to influence how much sugar is diverted for ethanol production as the season progresses.
