The State’s overall sugar recovery of 9.31 per cent this season is marginally higher than last year’s 9.16 per cent, indicating relatively stable cane quality across major sugar-producing belts
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EMMANUEL FOUDROT
Sugar mills across Maharashtra have crushed 906.56 lakh tonnes (lt) of sugarcane in the ongoing 2025–26 crushing season up to February 8, 2026, a substantial increase compared with the same period last year, according to the State’s latest cane crushing report by the Sugar Commissioner of Maharashtra.
During the period under review, 207 sugar factories comprising 102 cooperative and 105 private mills were operational across the State. These mills produced 844.11 lakh quintals of sugar, with an average net sugar recovery of 9.31 per cent, the data showed
In comparison, during the corresponding period of the previous crushing season, sugar mills had crushed 697.05 lt of cane and produced 638.71 lakh quintals of sugar, with a lower net recovery of 9.16 per cent. The number of mills in operation last season stood at 199, indicating a higher operational footprint this year.
The figures point to a nearly 30 per cent increase in cane crushing so far this season, accompanied by a moderate improvement in sugar recovery levels.
Regional Performance
Among divisions, the Kolhapur division recorded the highest sugarcane crushing at 193.16 lt, supported by a strong recovery rate of 10.87 per cent, the highest among all divisions. Mills in the Pune division crushed 201.81 lt, while the Solapur division reported cane crushing of 196.32 lt, though recovery levels there remained relatively lower at 8.44 per cent.
The Ahilyanagar division accounted for 113.44 lt of cane crushing, while mills in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division crushed 89.65 lt during the period. Nanded division reported cane crushing of 100.52 lt, with recovery at 9.18 per cent.
Lower crushing volumes were recorded in the Amravati and Nagpur divisions, which together contributed less than 12 lt of cane to the State’s total crushing, reflecting the limited number of operational mills in these regions.
Recovery Trends
The State’s overall sugar recovery of 9.31 per cent this season is marginally higher than last year’s 9.16 per cent, indicating relatively stable cane quality across major sugar-producing belts. Divisions such as Kolhapur and Pune continued to report recovery levels above the State average, while Solapur and parts of Marathwada remained below it.
Published on February 9, 2026