Sugar mills to advance cane crushing schedule
Sugar mills in India are advancing their crushing schedule to ensure supply during the upcoming festival season. Industry associations are requesting government support to offset potential financial losses caused by lower sugar recovery rates from early harvesting.
Why it matters
Adjusting production schedules impacts both commodity market prices and the financial stability of the agricultural manufacturing sector.
Sugar mills will start operating 10-15 days before the normal schedule for the 2026-2027 sugar marketing season to ensure adequate availability of sugar during the festival season this year.
At a meeting held with the Joint Secretary (Sugar) last month, the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) and the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) committed that the mills will advance the sugarcane crushing schedule.
“This proactive decision will enable fresh sugar to reach the domestic market well ahead of the festive season,” the associations said in a press release on Thursday. However, early commencement of sugarcane crushing is expected to result in lower sugar recovery and reduced cane yields, thereby affecting the operational efficiency and financial viability of mills.
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