Sugar prices curb: Maharashtra sugarcane crushing season set to begin on Oct 15​

Mumbai, Sep 9 (AHN) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led high-level committee on Wednesday decided to advance the upcoming sugarcane crushing season for 2026-27 to October 15.

The state government's decision comes when soaring sugar prices during the festive season have strained household budgets across Maharashtra.

The state government hopes the commencement of sugarcane crushing season from October 15 instead of November 1 demanded by sugar factories will stabilise the market and ensure an adequate supply of sugar.

This marks an earlier rollout compared to previous operational years, following seasons that started on November 1, 2025, and November 15, 2024, respectively.

The meeting was attended by Co-operation Minister Babasaheb Patil, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, former Minister Dilip Walse Patil, along with legislators and representatives from factory associations.

The move comes as retail sugar prices jumped to Rs 70–75 per kg in August due to a domestic supply crunch caused by lower production last season.

Normally, the crushing season commences in November.

However, with major festivals like Navratri, Dussehra, and Diwali approaching—and following advisories from the Central government to top-producing states -- the Maharashtra administration decided to begin operations nearly a month early to prevent further price spikes.

The proposed October 15 start date has, however, met with opposition from sugar mill owners and farmers.

Industry representatives said that starting the crushing process before November is financially disadvantageous for both factories and growers due to lower sugarcane maturity and sugar recovery rates at that time of the year.

Despite the pushback from millers, the state government remains focused on controlling inflation and stabilising supply before the peak festive period.

Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil said, "The decision to advance the sugarcane crushing season from October 15 was taken in the wake of festive season and also to avoid damage to the standing sugarcane."

According to crop estimations prepared by the Agriculture Department and MITCON, the state expects sugarcane cultivation across 15.43 to 15.48 lakh hectares.

Total cane production is projected to reach 1,238 to 1,250 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), yielding an estimated 990 to 1,000 LMT of cane for crushing.

Net sugar production is anticipated to hover between 96.45 and 97.58 LMT at a net recovery rate of 9.75 per cent, after diverting nearly 15 LMT of sugar equivalent toward ethanol production.

Reviewing the performance of the preceding 2025–26 crushing season (as of August 31, 2026), official records revealed that 210 sugar mills (102 cooperative and 108 private) processed 1,045 LMT of sugarcane.

Minister Patil said that the arrears payable by the sugar mills towards Fair and Remunerative Price are of the order of Rs 200 crore.

He added that the state government is taking action against such mills for clearing the dues.

He told that these mills won't be entitled to get crushing license for the upcoming season.