Sugar production estimated to increase in 2025-26; UP projected to perform better | Bareilly News

PILIBHIT: Based on the pan-India satellite imagery of sugarcane cultivation areas and the growth of the cane crop, the All India Sugar and Bio Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) estimated a remarkable increase in sugar production in the country during the sugarcane crushing year 2025-26. In three major sugar-producing states, the cultivation area in Maharashtra and Karnataka increased. Despite Uttar Pradesh showing a decline in total acreage, it is expected to show a rising trend in sugar production over the previous year. The findings were reviewed during the ISMA executive committee meeting held on November 4. The Director General (DG) of ISMA, Deepak Ballani, said, “These estimations will extend succour to the sugar-producing states to chalk out their roadmaps for the management of sugar mills, sugar stocks, and the diversion of sugar for ethanol production.” He added, “With the opening stocks of 50 lakh tonnes of sugar and the current season’s projected production of 343.5 lakh tonnes, the industry will have estimated closing stocks of 74.5 lakh tonnes of sugar after accounting for the diversion of 34 lakh tonnes of sugar for ethanol production and internal consumption of 285 lakh tonnes. With this stock position, the country will be well-positioned to export 20 lakh tonnes of sugar during the current season.” “In Maharashtra, the cane area for the 2025–26 sugar season increased to 14.71 lakh hectares, compared to 13.82 lakh hectares last year, showing an improvement of about 6%. Karnataka also projected an increase of about 6% to 6.8 lakh hectares compared to 6.4 lakh hectares last year. The cane area in UP declined by approximately 3% to 22.57 lakh hectares from 23.30 lakh hectares last season,” DG Ballani further said. He added, “As the rainfall and weather conditions in all three states were quite favourable, they were reflected in the enhanced crop conditions, leading to improved sugarcane yield. These conditions were estimated to lead to increased sugar recovery as well. Compared with the previous crushing year’s actual sugar production of Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh at 93.51, 54.89, and 101.01 lakh tonnes, respectively, the current crushing year’s production levels of the three states have been estimated at 103.0, 63.5, and 103.2 lakh tonnes, indicating a gross increase of 47.4 lakh tonnes over the previous year.” In comparison to the diversion of 35.01 lakh tonnes of sugar for ethanol production reported the previous year, the current season projected a decline to 34 lakh tonnes due to unrevised prices of ethanol in proportion to the increase in production cost. Deepak Ballani said, “With the opening stocks of 50 lakh tonnes of sugar and the current season’s projected production of 343.5 lakh tonnes, the industry will have estimated closing stocks of 74.5 lakh tonnes of sugar after accounting for the diversion of 34 lakh tonnes of sugar for ethanol production and internal consumption of 285 lakh tonnes. With this stock position, the country will be well-positioned to export 20 lakh tonnes of sugar during the current season.” Ballani added, “We have strongly urged the government to announce the export policy at the earliest so that the mills can proactively plan their raw and white sugar production strategies in advance.”