India's sugar sector sees sweet days ahead despite some bitter notes

The sugar season for 2025-26 promises to be bountiful, with a projected surplus of almost 12 million tonnes to be produced this season, raising hopes for both exports and ethanol

“Happy days are here again for the sugar sector!” exulted Union Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra at a conference of sugar and ethanol makers, pretty much summing up the mood on the opening session of a two-day event earlier this month.

 

The main question before the participants — leading players in the domestic and global sugar sector, major ethanol industry figures, and a host of other stakeholders — was this: What will India do with the nearly 12 million tonnes of surplus sweetener that it is set to produce in the coming 2025-26 sugar season running from October to September?

 

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