ISMA says 107 sugar mills begin crushing operations so far, enough stock to meet domestic demand

New Delhi: Nearly 110 sugar mills have so far started sugarcane crushing operations for the 2026-27 marketing year that started this month, industry body ISMA said on Monday, while asserting that the country has sufficient sugar stocks to meet festive demand.

India's domestic sugar demand is estimated at 280-285 lakh tonne annually. The production estimates for 2026-27 marketing year (October-September) have not been released by ISMA yet.

In a statement, Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said the 2026-27 sugar season has started on schedule across the country's major sugar-producing states, with 107 sugar mills commencing crushing operations across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.


In Maharashtra, close to 87 mills have commenced operations. More mills are expected to start in the coming weeks as cane harvesting gathers pace.

In Uttar Pradesh, crushing has begun, with two mills already operational. The 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 association said.

ISMA noted that the previous sugar marketing year 2025-26, ended with about 36 lakh tonne of closing stocks.

As of October 25, 2026, sugar production stood at 4 lakh tonne, compared with around 0.6 lakh tonne on the corresponding date last year.

The government has extended 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," the association said.

Deepak Ballani, Director General, ISMA, said India has more than sufficient sugar to meet domestic requirements.

"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," he added.

Ballani said the 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," he added.