New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) The current sugar season has seen sugar production reach 254.97 lakh tons as of April 15, with 38 factories operational nationwide, according to a statement from the Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) on Thursday.

Approximately 35 lakh tons of sugar is anticipated to be redirected towards ethanol production this year, a significant increase compared to last year's 21.5 lakh tons, the statement noted.

Currently, 22 factories are active in Uttar Pradesh, with 16 of these in western UP.

Thanks to improved plant cane yields, cane availability in UP has risen, and these factories are expected to continue operations into late April 2025 or the first week of May. Additionally, sugar recovery rates have improved in the latter half of the season, contributing to enhanced sugar output, the statement indicated.

In Maharashtra, a sugar mill in the Pune district is likely to operate until the second week of May this year.

Furthermore, some factories in south Karnataka are set to resume operations during the special season from June/July to September 2025.

Traditionally, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu together yield about 4-5 lakh tons of sugar in the special season.

ISMA remains optimistic regarding the outlook for the 2025–26 sugar season due to promising crop prospects in both southern and northern regions.

The outlook for crops in the south has improved, thanks to a favorable southwest monsoon in 2024, and sugarcane planting for the 2025–26 season has shown considerable improvement in key producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka. Consequently, the crushing season is projected to commence on schedule in October 2025, ensuring sufficient supply.

Both cane and sugar yields are expected to rise in the north as well. In Uttar Pradesh and other northern areas, ongoing varietal replacement initiatives are yielding positive results. These advancements are anticipated to boost both cane yield and sugar recovery rates, thereby enhancing overall production performance in the upcoming season.

Seasonal forecasts from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and Skymet predict a normal southwest monsoon for 2025. This reinforces confidence in a favorable agro-climatic environment, supporting a healthy sugarcane crop and strong production potential for the 2025–26 season, as stated by ISMA.