PTI New Delhi

India's sugar closing stock is projected at 4.8-5 million tonne, enough to meet domestic demand in October-November 2025, despite falling production in the current 2024-25 season, the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories (NFCSF) said on Thursday.

Sugar season runs from October to September. Sugar output declined 18.38 per cent to 25.74 million tonne till May 15 of the 2024-25 season, compared with 31.54 million tonne in the year-ago period, the cooperative body said.

The production drop stems from lower sugar recovery rates, which fell to 9.30 per cent from 10.10 per cent, and reduced cane availability for crushing.  Total cane crushed decreased to 276.77 million tonne from 312.26 million tonne in the same period.

NFCSF projects overall 2024-25 season sugar production at 26.11 million tonne, down from 31.9 million tonne in the previous season. "The closing stock at the end of the season is projected to be around 4.8-5 million tonne, which is sufficient to meet domestic demand in October and November 2025," the federation said in a  statement.