News Brief
India's Sugar Output Faces First Deficit In Eight Years Due To Drought And Heavy Rains; No Exports Expected In 2024-25 Season
Representative image for Indian agriculture
India's sugar production is set to witness a significant drop in the 2024-25 season due to adverse weather conditions, marking the first time in eight years that output may fall below domestic consumption.
Farmers and industry officials attribute this decline to last year’s drought and this year’s excessive rains, which have disrupted sugarcane growth cycles.
Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Uttar Pradesh, which together account for over 80 per cent of India's sugar output, are experiencing sharply reduced yields.
Industry experts predict a production decline to around 27 million metric tons, a stark drop from last year’s 32 million tons, and below the annual domestic consumption of over 29 million tons.
This shortfall could rule out any significant exports in the current season, ending September 2025, further tightening the global sugar market.
Yields in Maharashtra and Karnataka have dropped 10–15 tons per hectare due to erratic weather. Farmers like Shrikant Ingle from Solapur report yields falling to 80 tons per hectare, compared to the usual 120–130 tons, despite intensive efforts.
While Uttar Pradesh escaped drought conditions, its plantations were hit by red rot disease, significantly reducing sugarcane output. State officials are promoting disease-resistant varieties to mitigate the impact.
The downward revision in production estimates has all but nullified prospects for exports this season. The sugar industry had sought approval for 2 million tons of exports, but government officials indicate that exports will only be considered after meeting ethanol production requirements.
As India grapples with these challenges, the balance between domestic needs and the global sugar trade remains precarious, underscoring the critical role of climate resilience and disease management in sustaining agricultural output.
