Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh has begun the New Year on a strong note, emerging as the top state in average sugar recovery during the ongoing cane-crushing season, a development that could intensify competition with Maharashtra, the country’s largest sugar producer.
The state recorded a sugar recovery rate of 9.7%, well above last year’s 8.9% and higher than the current national average of 8.83%. Experts attributed UP’s higher recovery to the use of improved cane varieties and better farming methods, which helped increase sugar content in the crop.
Data from the season shows that sugar output in UP from 92.75 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) in 2024–25 is expected to rise to 105 LMT this season. Production is expected to rise further over the next two months as cane crushing gathers pace. UP had overtaken Maharashtra as the leading sugar producer last year.
Maharashtra, however, is expected to see sharp rise in output this season, with sugar production increasing from 80.95 LMT in 2024–25 to 110 LMT.
Industry experts said higher recovery rates mean more sugar extracted from each tonne of cane, leading to better revenues for mills and improved payment capacity for farmers. Sources added that many mills in UP operated at high crushing levels throughout the season, helping improve efficiency and recovery.
Favourable crop conditions also played a role. Unlike regions affected by uneven weather, disease or flooding, several cane-growing areas in UP maintained healthy crops, resulting in better juice quality and higher sugar extraction.
As of December 31, 2025, sugar mills had crushed 1,339.21 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of sugarcane, compared with 1,101.87 LMT during the same period last year. In the ongoing season, 499 sugar mills particiapted in the crushing operations, according to data released by the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Limited (NFCSF).
Sugar output during the period stood at 118.30 LMT, up from 95.60 LMT a year earlier. The average sugar recovery rate reached 8.83% by the end of December, improving from 8.68% recorded on the corresponding date last year.
In Uttar Pradesh, sugar production reached 35.65 LMT after crushing 367.53 LMT of sugarcane, with an average recovery rate of 9.70%. Maharashtra produced 48.70 LMT of sugar after crushing 556.57 LMT of cane, achieving an average recovery of 8.75%. Karnataka recorded sugar output of 22.10 LMT after crushing 279.75 LMT of sugarcane, with an average recovery rate of 7.90%.
