Dikhyaa Mohanty 
According to a statement released on Thursday by the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), the country’s 38 plants produced 254.97 lakh tons of sugar as of April 15 of this year. According to the statement, almost 35 lakh tons of sugar are anticipated to be diverted this year for the manufacturing of ethanol, up from 21.5 lakh tons the previous year. In Uttar Pradesh, up to 22 plants are still in operation during the current season, with 16 of those being in western UP.
These plants are anticipated to stay in operation until late April 2025 or the first week of May, as a result of the increased plant cane production and enhanced cane supply in Uttar Pradesh. According to the statement, sugar recovery has also improved in the second half of the season, which has led to higher sugar yield. It is anticipated that one sugar mill in Maharashtra’s Pune area would continue to run till the second week of May. During the special season, which runs from June/July to September 2025, certain factories in south Karnataka are anticipated to reopen.
Traditionally, during the special season, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka together provide about 4-5 lakh tons of sugar. Because of improved crop prospects in both the southern and northern states, ISMA is also upbeat about the forecast for the 2025–2026 sugar season. A favorable southwest monsoon in 2024 has boosted the crop prospects in the south, and major producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka have seen a considerable improvement in sugarcane planting for the 2025–2026 season. Therefore, it is expected that the crushing season would start on time in October 2025, guaranteeing a sufficient supply.
In the north, harvests of sugar and cane are also anticipated to increase. Ongoing varietal substitution programs are showing promising results in Uttar Pradesh and other northern regions. It is anticipated that these developments would improve sugar recovery rates and cane yield, bolstering overall production performance in the forthcoming season. A typical southwest monsoon is anticipated in 2025, according to seasonal projections from Skymet and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). According to the ISMA statement, this strengthens confidence in a favorable agroclimatic condition, promoting a robust production potential and a healthy sugarcane crop for the 2025–2026 season.
