India's sugar output for 2025-26 drops to 28.3 million tonnes due to bad weather, but remains above last year’s level.

India’s sugar output for the 2025-26 season is forecast at 28.3 million tonnes, down from an earlier estimate of 29.6 million, due to adverse weather in key states. Unseasonal rains, cloudy conditions, and waterlogging in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka disrupted cane growth, particularly in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, while early flowering and jaggery demand further reduced yields. Gross production is expected at 31.5 million tonnes, with 3.2 million tonnes diverted to ethanol. Despite the decline, output remains above the 2024-25 level of 26.2 million tonnes.