NEW DELHI — India's sugar production has reached 12.85 lakh tonnes in the opening weeks of the 2026-27 season, nearly four times the 3.20 lakh tonnes recorded in the corresponding period last year, as 184 mills commenced crushing operations by November 5, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said in data reported by news agency ANI.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani said the season had started on a positive note, with comfortable opening stocks ensuring adequate availability of sugar for domestic consumption during the festive season. The early surge reflects the prompt start of crushing, particularly in Maharashtra, alongside factories progressively starting in other major producing states, Rural Voice reported in its account of the same ISMA release.

Source: Rural Voice

12.85 lakh tonnesnational sugar output by November 5
3.20 lakh tonnesoutput in the same period last year
184mills crushing, against 154 a year earlier
10.78 lakh tonnesMaharashtra's share, from 136 mills

Maharashtra leads, UP starts late

Maharashtra leads the early momentum with 136 operational mills producing 10.78 lakh tonnes by November 5, up from 101 mills and 1.23 lakh tonnes in the same period of 2025. In Uttar Pradesh, 19 mills in the western and central regions had produced 0.20 lakh tonnes, against 32 mills and 1.10 lakh tonnes a year earlier. Karnataka recorded 0.90 lakh tonnes from seven units continuing from the special season, Tamil Nadu 0.64 lakh tonnes across seven mills, and Gujarat (12 mills) and Telangana (3 mills) together accounted for 0.33 lakh tonnes.

ISMA said crushing is expected to expand further, with most factories in western Uttar Pradesh commencing operations over the next couple of days, followed by central Uttar Pradesh after Diwali. With opening stocks of around 36 lakh tonnes carried over from the previous season, the association said domestic availability remains comfortable.