ISMA

ISMA says subsidies under PM Surya Ghar are driving installations, but policy continuity beyond March 2027 will be critical to sustain demand and manufacturing investment

Sugar imports continue to make commercial sense even as domestic prices of the sweetener soften, Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) President Niraj Shirgaokar said on Wednesday. His comments come against the backdrop of firming global sugar prices, after India, the world's second-largest sugar producer, last month permitted duty-free imports to shore up domestic supplies and keep retail prices in check ahead of the festival season. "Imports are still viable despite declining domestic prices," Shirgaokar told reporters on the sidelines of the fourth edition of The India Sugar & Bio-Energy Conference 2026. Ex-mill prices have fallen to Rs 43-44 a kg from a peak of Rs 65-67 a kg recorded two weeks ago, he said, adding that the impact on retail prices will take another one to two weeks to become visible. Among a slew of measures to rein in prices, the government last month allowed duty-free imports of 10 lakh tonnes of sugar. According to sources, mills have

Sugar mills have proposed starting the 2026-27 crushing season 10-15 days early to improve festive supplies

Isma's appeal comes days after the government released a fact sheet rebutting social media 'misinformation' about India's E20 ethanol blending programme

Industry players said the government may have adopted a precautionary approach due to climatic uncertainties, with some hinting at wrong production estimates

CAFE norms, overseen by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), require carmakers to keep the average carbon emissions of their fleet within a prescribed limit per year

Sharp rise in industrial diesel prices raises transport and input costs, putting pressure on sugar mills' cash flows and mining operations across sectors

Sources said ISMA, in a letter written a few days ago, stated that while global energy markets remain uncertain, accelerating domestic biofuel utilisation is both an economic and strategic imperative

India's sugar production rose 22 per cent to 15.9 million tonnes by January 15 in the 2025-26 season from a year earlier, supported by higher cane supplies and better yields, industry body ISMA said on Tuesday. Output stood at 13 million tonnes in the same period last year, the Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said in a statement. Around 518 mills were operational as of Jan 15, compared with 500 a year ago. The sugar season runs from October to September. Production in top producing state Maharashtra rose 51 per cent to 6.45 million tonnes from 4.27 million tonnes a year ago, while output in Uttar Pradesh increased to 4.6 million tonnes from 4.28 million tonnes. Karnataka's output rose to 3.1 million tonnes from 2.75 million tonnes in the year-ago period. "India's sugar sector has made steady progress so far in the 2025-26 season, supported by adequate sugarcane availability, improved field-level productivity, and smoother operations across major ...

Isma said opening stocks stood at 5 mt, while ethanol diversion is estimated at around 3.4 million tonnes for the current year

India's sugar production is expected to rise 18.58 per cent to 30.95 million tonnes in the 2025-26 marketing year that began in October, up from 26.1 million tonnes in the previous year, industry body ISMA said on Tuesday. The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said opening stocks stood at 5 million tonnes, while ethanol diversion is estimated at around 3.4 million tonnes for the current year. Total sugar availability, including opening stocks and higher production, would reach 35.95 million tonnes in 2025-26, exceeding domestic requirement of 28.5 million tonnes, ISMA said in its first advance estimate for the new marketing year. The higher output is expected on increased production in the top three sugar-producing states - Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, ISMA said. Maharashtra's production is pegged at 13 million tonnes, Uttar Pradesh at 10.32 million tonnes and Karnataka at 6.35 million tonnes for 2025-26. "With a comfortable sugar balance, ...

Higher exports from the world's second-largest sugar producer could pressure benchmark New York and London futures, which are hovering near five-year lows

Sugar industry has demanded a bigger share of ethanol supply contracts for the 2025-26 season, warning that inadequate allocation could trigger financial stress and delay payments to cane farmers, an industry body said on Wednesday. The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said sugar mills have been allocated just 289 crore litres of ethanol -- 28 per cent of the total requirement of 1,050 crore litres, while grain-based distilleries received 760 crore litres, or 72 per cent. The allocation falls short despite the sugar sector investing more than Rs 40,000 crore to build ethanol capacity exceeding 900 crore litres, ISMA said. "There has been some kind of a policy gap and planning gap as far as the OMCs (oil marketing companies) are concerned, which has led to the abnormality and disruption in allotment of ethanol for the sugar industry," ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani told reporters. The ethanol blending programme was launched to help the sugar industry

Both grain and sugarcane ethanol producers criticise OMCs' allocation for 2025-26, citing unfair distribution, capacity underuse, and potential negative impact on the sugar sector

Low-income households will lead growth in branded sugar demand by 2030, while institutional buyers continue to dominate India's sugar consumption trends

India's sugar output is expected at 34.90 million tonne in the 2025-26 season starting in October, the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said on Thursday. Overall, improved cane quality in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu is supporting a marginal rise in sugar output, ISMA said in a release. However, these gains are likely to be offset by small declines in flood-hit regions, keeping the national output estimates outlook broadly stable, it said. "Accordingly, ISMA has reaffirmed its projection of 349 lakh tonne of gross sugar production in 2025-26 SS, in line with its July 2025 estimate, signalling stability in output expectations despite regional variations," ISMA said while releasing a review on its preliminary estimates of sugar production in 2025-26 sugar season (October-September). The industry body will reassess crop conditions in October 2025 and release its first advance estimate in October/November 2025. ISMA had released its

India's sugar production is expected to rise 18 per cent to 34.90 million tonnes in the 2025-26 season starting in October, with a scope for exports of 2 million tonnes, the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said on Thursday. Sugar production is estimated at 26.10 million tonnes in the current 2024-25 season (October-September). "The sugar production is estimated to be higher at 34.90 million tonnes with upward bias and there is scope for export of 2 million tonnes in 2025-26 season," ISMA President Gautam Goel told reporters while releasing the first preliminary estimate. About 5 million tonnes of sugar can be diverted next season for ethanol production compared with 3.5 million tonnes in the current season, he said. The government has allowed exports of 1 million tonnes in the current season. Goel said the industry body will seek "timely" permission for 2 million tonne sugar exports, higher diversion for ethanol, an increase in the minimum selling pric

Industry body says allowing ethanol imports for fuel use will derail biofuel sector investments and affect timely payments to sugarcane farmers

The world's second-biggest sugar producer set the 1 million ton export allowance i9n January because the government and industry believed there was a surplus for overseas markets

Industry bodies have lowered output estimates for the current year to September 2025, raising some concerns over supplies