Sugar season 2026–27 begins on schedule, nearly 107 mills commence operations

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The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now. Read Today's Paper Sugar season 2026–27 begins on schedule, nearly 107 mills commence operations across India: ISMAET OnlineLast Updated: Oct 27, 2026, 10:31:00 AM ISTSynopsis

In Maharashtra, the country’s largest sugar-producing state, close to 87 mills have commenced operations. More mills are expected to start in the coming week as cane harvesting gathers pace.

The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) on Monday announced that the 2026–27 sugar season has started on schedule across the country’s major sugar-producing states, with nearly 107 sugar mills having commenced crushing operations across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

In Maharashtra, the country’s largest sugar-producing state, close to 87 mills have commenced operations. More mills are expected to start in the coming week as cane harvesting gathers pace. In Uttar Pradesh, crushing has begun, with two mills already operational. The full season will roll out in a phased manner in line with the normal schedule. Crushing in Western Uttar Pradesh is expected to begin in the next three to four days, followed by Central Uttar Pradesh shortly thereafter and Eastern Uttar Pradesh as the cane matures in the region.

The timely commencement of operations reflects preparedness by the industry, farmers and state administrations, alongside the progressive availability of sugarcane for crushing. The previous sugar season, 2025–26, ended with approximately 36 lakh tonnes of carryover stocks, providing a base for meeting domestic consumption requirements. As of 25 October 2026, sugar production during the current 2026–27 season had reached approximately 4 lakh tonnes, compared with around 0.6 lakh tonnes on the corresponding date last year.

So far, 107 sugar mills have commenced crushing operations across India, including close to 87 mills in Maharashtra, two mills in Uttar Pradesh and 17 mills across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat. Crushing operations in other states are progressing in line with their respective seasonal schedules. The Government has also undertaken measures to support domestic supplies, including extending the duty-free raw sugar import window and introducing stockholding limits. These measures, together with available carryover stocks and the commencement of fresh production, contribute to ensuring adequate sugar availability for domestic consumption during the festive period.

Deepak Ballani, Director General, ISMA, said, “The 2026–27 sugar season has commenced on schedule, with nearly 107 mills already undertaking crushing operations across the country. India has more than sufficient sugar to meet domestic requirements, and there is no cause for concern regarding availability. The industry remains fully committed to ensuring steady supplies for consumers and timely cane payments to farmers. Domestic sugar requirements during the festive season are expected to be met comfortably, and prices are expected to remain stable. As more mills commence operations, availability will strengthen further, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted supplies for domestic consumers.”
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