The overall ethanol blending as on 31st January 2026 is at 19.98%, with grain-based distilleries dominating ethanol production. Against a total ethanol requirement of 1,050 crore litres, allocations stand at 1,048.26 crore litres,
Grain-based feedstocks
Total grain-based allocation: 759.75 crore litres (72% of total allocations)
Total grain-based supply: 151.17 crore litres (63% of total supplies)
Breakdown of Grain-Based Sources
Maize
Allocation: 478.90 crore litres (46%)
Supply: 86.45 crore litres (36%)
SFG (FCI Rice)
Allocation: 233.25 crore litres (22%)
Supply: 52.06 crore litres (22%)
DFG
Allocation: 47.60 crore litres (5%)
Supply: 12.66 crore litres (5%)
Maize continues to lead the spot of being the single largest contributor to ethanol production from the grain-based feedstock basket, both in allocation and supply terms.
Sugarcane-derived ethanol, though accounting for 28% of allocations, contributes a relatively higher 37% share in actual supplies, reflecting faster off-take from cane-based units.
Molasses-based feedstocks
Total sugarcane-based allocation: 288.51 crore litres (28%)
Total sugarcane-based supply: 87.86 crore litres (37%)
Sugarcane Feedstock Breakdown
Cane Juice (SCJ)
Allocation: 165.85 crore litres (16%)
Supply: 71.00 crore litres (30%)
B-Heavy Molasses
Allocation: 110.49 crore litres (11%)
Supply: 14.07 crore litres (6%)
C-Heavy Molasses
Allocation: 12.17 crore litres (1%)
Supply: 2.79 crore litres (1%)
Sugar mills have diverted around 11.78 lakh tons of sugar towards ethanol production to maintain inventory balance:
Sugar diversion from SCJ: 10.65 lakh tons
Sugar diversion from B-Heavy Molasses: 1.13 lakh tons
