According to Deepak Ballani of the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA), above-normal rainfall across key sugar-producing states could temporarily impact output and crop quality. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted October rainfall at nearly 115% of normal, raising short-term concerns for cane maturity and recovery rates.

Despite these challenges, ISMA maintains an optimistic production estimate of around 35 million metric tonnes (MMT) for the 2024–25 season, up about 18% year-on-year to approximately 349 lakh tonnes. The improvement stems from higher cane acreage and favorable monsoon distribution earlier in the season.

While IMD’s forecast implies potential oversupply of moisture in certain areas, rains in Maharashtra have moderated over the past ten days. This moderation has alleviated fears of prolonged flooding or waterlogging, which could have hampered cane crushing schedules.

Ballani emphasized that the industry does not expect a major dent in output this season. Mills are expected to start preliminary operations by September 1, with full-scale sugar crushing beginning in November. This timeline suggests that India’s sugar supply dynamics should remain stable through the early part of FY2026.

ISMA has reiterated that the sugar export cap remains fixed at 1 million tonnes for the 2024–25 season. The association has requested the government to consider permitting exports of up to 20 lakh tonnes to balance surplus output and maintain mill liquidity.

Ballani also noted that while the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugar has remained unchanged since 2019, the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane has seen nearly a fivefold increase over the same period, exerting cost pressures on mills. This policy gap continues to challenge the industry’s profitability, particularly in states with higher cane procurement prices.

The sugar sector has consistently lobbied for higher export quotas to ease stock accumulation and prevent domestic oversupply. Allowing incremental exports could help mills clear inventories while supporting India’s positioning as a reliable supplier in global markets.

Industry participants believe that proactive policy adjustments, particularly on MSP and export limits, will be crucial for maintaining the financial health of cooperative and private mills through FY2026.

Indian-Share-Tips.com Main Derivatives Pro Tiger Gulshan Khera, CFP®, who is also a SEBI Regd Investment Adviser, observes that the sugar industry’s medium-term resilience hinges on pricing reforms and export flexibility. While above-normal rainfall introduces near-term uncertainty, India’s structural sugar production capabilities remain robust, supported by improving cane yields and ethanol blending initiatives.