New Delhi, February 25 India's sugar production has been revised down by 5.57 per cent to 32.40 million tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing year, industry body ISMA said on Wednesday, citing lower yields in top producers Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
The third advance estimate, released after an executive committee meeting, follows a second projection of 34.35 million tonnes. Output last year was 29.62 million tonnes.
After diverting 3.1 million tonnes for ethanol, net availability will reach 29.3 million tonnes, up from 26.12 million tonnes in 2024-25.
Including 5 million tonnes of opening stock, the total availability of 34.3 million tonnes exceeds domestic consumption of 28.3 million tonnes, ISMA said.
ISMA forecasts exports at 700,000 tonnes and closing stocks at 5.3 million tonnes.
Net production in Maharashtra is estimated at 10.6 million tonnes, Uttar Pradesh at 9.25 million tonnes, and Karnataka at 4.84 million tonnes – all revised downwards but above last year's levels.
In Uttar Pradesh, lower yields stem from a variety replacement programme, although recovery rates have improved. Maharashtra and Karnataka saw reduced yields from early sugarcane flowering due to excessive rainfall and shorter harvest windows due to higher crushing rates, ISMA said in a statement.
Planting for 2026-27 has improved in Maharashtra and Karnataka, promising ample opening stocks of 5.3 million tonnes.
The estimates draw from field visits, weather data, yields, recovery rates, and crushing trends.
