Sugar production in India to grow by 18% in 2025/26 MY

India's sugar production in the 2025/26 MY, which begins in October, will grow by 18% to 34.9 million tonnes due to improved sugarcane yields and expansion of the area under cultivation, the Indian Sugar and Bioenergy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said on Thursday.

Active monsoon rains contribute to high sugarcane yields, which will allow for increased production.

The association called on the government to set a quota for sugar exports of 2 million tons and increase the volume of sugar processing into ethanol to 5 million tons. In the current season, these figures are 1 million tons for exports and 3.4 million tons for ethanol. Such measures will help balance the domestic market and support growing demand.

In the 2024/25 MY, sugar production will be 26.1 million tons. After processing 3.4 million tons into ethanol and exporting 1 million tons, sugar stocks barely cover domestic demand, which reached 27.9 million tons. ISMA experts emphasize the need for smart surplus management to ensure market stability in the next season.