Sugar output slips below 1 million tonnes as mills ramp up crushing

Around 152 sugar mills across India had commenced crushing operations by the end of October, generating 0.85 million tonnes of sugar as the new season unfolds. The early-season output remains below the one million tonne mark, reflecting the gradual nature of the crushing campaign across the country's sugar-producing regions.

The recovery rate—a key indicator of production efficiency—has declined to 8.01 per cent from 8.44 per cent during the corresponding period last season. This contraction in recovery efficiency points to potential headwinds for mills, possibly stemming from variations in cane quality or processing challenges.

The sugar sector, a significant component of India's agricultural economy, closely monitors these early-season metrics as they often signal trends for the full crushing year. Mills typically operate at varying intensities depending on cane availability, weather conditions, and market dynamics across different states.

Industry observers will be watching closely as more mills commence operations in the coming weeks to assess whether the current recovery rates stabilise or whether corrective measures prove necessary to improve operational efficiency and boost output through the remainder of the crushing season.