Kanpur: Experts have suggested that the Indian sugar industry should start focusing on producing sulphur-free sugar, especially in view of possible disruptions in sulphur supply due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The situation could impact the availability and cost of sulphur, which is widely used in sugar processing.
At present, nearly 85% of India’s 540 operational sugar mills use the sulphitation process for clarification during sugar production. The industry’s annual sulphur requirement is estimated at around 2 lakh tonnes.
Former Director of the National Sugar Institute, Prof. Narendra Mohan, has been invited to present innovative technologies related to sulphur-free sugar production at the plenary session of the SugarNxt 2026 International Conference, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on April 7–8.
Prof. Mohan noted that India imports large quantities of sulphur for use in several industries, including the sugar sector. Sulphur is mainly recovered during the desulphurisation of crude oil and natural gas. Prices have been rising since November due to supply constraints and higher costs in India and China. With the ongoing conflict in West Asia, prices could increase further, creating operational challenges for sugar mills.
He added that this situation highlights the need to shift towards sulphur-free sugar production, which is considered healthier and more environmentally friendly.
Sulphitation sugar is also less preferred by institutional buyers because it is not suitable for manufacturing pharmaceutical-grade sugar, beverages, bakery products, and confectionery items. Additionally, the use of sulphur can lead to corrosion in processing equipment, resulting in higher maintenance costs and increased downtime.
According to Prof. Mohan, while some proven technologies for sulphur-free sugar production already exist, recent trials with newer technologies have shown that such sugar can now be produced at costs comparable to sugar made through the double sulphitation process.
