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Amid the ongoing protest by sugarcane growers, only 15 of 55 sugar mills in Maharashtra have begun crushing in the 2026-27 season, while Karnataka has yet to begin, even as the government has set up a committee to address the farmers' grievances, according to sources on Thursday. In Maharashtra, 40 mills have performed the customary puja that precedes the crushing season starting in October, but have not begun full-fledged operations because of the agitation, sources said. Fifteen mills started operations from October 8 onwards. "The sugar produced from these 15 mills is expected to cool down sugar prices", a source said. "In Karnataka, not a single mill is operating now because of the protest," the sources said, adding that only eight of the state's 28 mills are running, crushing cane grown in the special season. Maharashtra and Karnataka are the country's second and third largest sugar-producing states, respectively. Farmers in both states are demanding a higher cane support pri
Ex-mill sugar prices fell nearly 30 per cent to Rs 47 per kg on Monday, from a peak of Rs 67 per kg on August 18, following a series of government interventions, but the drop has yet to filter down to retail shelves, industry sources said. While the decline in ex-mill rates gets reflected almost immediately in wholesale markets, retail prices tend to lag. Retailers who bought stock at the earlier, higher rates are unwilling to sell at a loss and will continue pricing their existing inventory at the older rate until it is exhausted, the sources explained. A retailer typically holds 10-15 bags of sugar, each weighing 50 kg. Only once fresh stock is procured at the lower rate will retail prices adjust accordingly. "It takes at least ten days to reflect changes in the retail price," an industry source said. On Sunday, retail sugar was selling at Rs 64.23 per kg, against a wholesale rate of Rs 59.72 per kg. WHY EX-MILL PRICES FELL ------------------------------ The decline follows t
Sugar firm Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd expects about Rs 2,000 crore annual revenue from its new bio-plastic plant in Uttar Pradesh, scheduled to be commissioned during the December quarter, a senior company official said. Balrampur Chini Mills, which has 10 sugar factories in Uttar Pradesh, is setting up a Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) plant of 80,000 tonnes per annum capacity at a cost of more than Rs 3,000 crore. In an interview with PTI, Balrampur Chini Executive Director Avantika Saraogi said, "This new plant will be operational in the third quarter of this fiscal." Asked about the revenue potential from the plant, she said, "We are expecting a revenue of about Rs 2,000 crore at full capacity. Balrampur Chini posted a total revenue of around Rs 6,300 crore during the last fiscal. The full-year impact of this new PLA plant would be reflected in the 2027-28 fiscal. Saraogi said the construction activities on the site are undergoing at full speed. Meanwhile, the company is doing analysis
The food ministry has approved an additional export quota of 87,587 tonnes of sugar for the 2025-26 marketing year (October-September), following requests from sugar mills, the ministry said in a circular on Monday. The government had earlier permitted exports of 1.5 million tonnes for the season, and in February allocated an extra 500,000 tonnes to willing mills on a non-swappable basis. Mills had until February to apply for portions of the additional quota. Of the 500,000 tonnes, only 87,587 tonnes were requested and approved, with the remainder lapsing, the ministry stated. Mills must export the allocated sugar by June 30, 2026. Those exporting at least 70 per cent of their quota by that date will be allowed to ship the balance by September 30, 2026. Failure to meet the 70 per cent threshold will result in the unutilised quantity lapsing, with potential reallocation to higher-performing or willing mills. No extensions will be granted except in force majeure cases. The quota cann
Ethanol blending has transformed the balance sheets of sugar mills and India's sugar cooperatives sector has benefitted immensely after Narendra Modi became the prime minister, Union minister Amit Shah said on Sunday. He also said that the Centre, under PM Modi's leadership, will extend all possible assistance to farmers in Maharashtra who have suffered losses due to heavy rains in the state recently. The Union Minister for Home and Cooperation was addressing a farmers' rally after inaugurating the expanded capacity of Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Cooperative Sugar Factory in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district, which has increased its crushing capacity to 10,000 tonnes of sugarcane per day. He also unveiled statues of Dr Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil, a notable figure in the cooperative movement, and his son and former Union minister Dr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil. The sugar cooperative sector has benefitted immensely after Narendra Modi became the prime minister, he said, adding that sugar ...