UP’s ‘sweet surplus’ can meet India’s sugar needs for 2 months
Amid the shortage talks, the state’s immediate worry is to exhaust its existing sugar stocks of over 28 lakh tonnes that can meet the demand for 6-7 months.
Uttar Pradesh, India's leading sugarcane producer and second-largest sugar producer after Maharashtra, is grappling with a sugar shortage. Despite claims of surplus stocks, the state is concerned about exhausting its existing stocks of over 28 lakh tonnes, which can meet demand for six-seven months. However, new stocks are expected to begin arriving in October, providing a buffer.
Sugar prices have surged from ₹50 to ₹70 per kilogram over a week, despite the reported surplus. The state government and sugar mills insist there is no physical shortage, attributing the price rise to speculation and possible hoarding. The Centre's recent decision to allow sugar imports has fueled speculation of supply tightness elsewhere in the country.
The additional chief secretary, sugar industries, cane development, and excise, Veena Kumari Meena, stated that UP's existing stock alone could meet the entire country's sugar requirement for two months. However, the production of sugar in UP has declined in recent years, from 104.13 lakh tonnes in 2023-24 to 89.52 lakh tonnes in 2025-26.
This decline coincides with a sharp rise in ethanol production, which has diverted a portion of the cane. Meena acknowledged factors such as lower average cane yield and cane diseases as contributing to the reduced sugar production.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
