India’s sugar production up at a record high of 8.5 lakh tonnes in October

India has produced a record 8.45 lakh tonnes (lt) of sugar in the first month of the 2026-27 (October-September) crushing season, largely driven by the 7.20 lt produced by mills in Maharashtra. Only 1 lt of sugar was produced in October 2025, according to data compiled by the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories.

Considering an opening stock of about 36 lt on October 1 and the government’s allocation of 27 lt to sugar mills for sale during October, the record production last month is expected to boost availability in November. This comes as all the remaining sugar mills across the country are expected to commence crushing operations in the next 7-10 days.

According to data from the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories, 152 mills have commenced operations, compared with just 31 mills in October 2025. Sugarcane crushing stood at 105.43 lakh tonnes (lt), against 11.84 lt a year ago. The all-India sugar recovery rate during October was 8.04 per cent, compared with 8.36 per cent in the year-ago period.

No output in UP

Sugar production data show that there was no output in Uttar Pradesh, the largest sugarcane producer in the country, despite 3 mills began crushing last month. As many as 10 mills in Uttar Pradesh produced 10,000 tonnes of sugar in October 2025.

In Maharashtra, 123 sugar mills started crushing against only 2 in the year-ago period. No sugar was produced in the state in October 2025. The recovery rate in the state has also improved; initially, when 20-30 mills started crushing it was less than 6 per cent, and for the entire month of October the recovery is recorded at 7.90 per cent.

In Karnataka, only 7 mills crushed 8.33 lt of sugarcane and produced 80,000 tonnes sugar with 9.6 per cent recovery in October 2026, whereas in the year-ago period 17 mills crushed 7.07 lt of sugarcane and produced 70,000 tonnes of sugar with 9.9 per cent recovery. Farmers are agitating in the State, demanding higher price for sugarcane, which recently ended after the State government’s intervention.

Food Ministry fiat

The Centre fixes the fair and remunerative price (FRP), while some States also announce a State-advised price (SAP) each season. Sugar mills are required to buy sugarcane from farmers at the government-notified rates. The FRP is linked to a basic sugar recovery rate of 10.25 per cent. Farmers receive a lower price when the recovery rate falls below this benchmark, reducing their returns. For the 2026-27 season, the FRP has been fixed at ₹365 per quintal.

Meanwhile, the Food Ministry has asked mills to sell 13 lt of sugar in the first fortnight of November after allocating mill-wise quota. There is no quota for the two importers under the advance licence scheme (ALS) after expiry of October 31 deadline.

Sugar mills in Karnataka have been allocated to sell 2.63 lt, in Maharashtra 4.78 lt and in Uttar Pradesh 4.17 lt.