A new report from the attaché of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in New Delhi, published this Wednesday (29), projects expansion of the 2026/27 sugarcane harvest of India.
According to the document, the harvested sugarcane area should reach 5.9 million hectares, a 2% increase over the current cycle. This growth is a result of two consecutive years of favorable monsoons, which replenished aquifers and reservoirs and increased the availability of water for irrigation.
Raw material production is estimated at 463 million tons, also showing a 2% increase compared to the previous year. The USDA highlights that improved water conditions will allow for better crop establishment, especially in key states such as… Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka.
The next sugarcane crushing season is expected to begin in October 2026, following the seasonal pattern. The expectation is for continued operations at the mills and support from public policies, such as the guaranteed minimum price for producers, which sustains the industrial pace.
Sugar production is projected at 33.6 million tons (gross basis), a 12% increase compared to the current cycle, driven by a greater supply of sugarcane and a recovery in the extraction rate, estimated at 9.2%.
Domestic consumption is expected to reach 31 million tons in the 2026/27 cycle, a 3% increase year-on-year. Despite stable per capita consumption, demand continues to expand, driven mainly by the industrial and food service sectors, while domestic consumption is losing ground due to changes in dietary habits.
Regarding exports, the country is expected to ship 3.6 million tons of sugar in the next harvest, an 8% increase compared to 2025/26. Expectations of higher production and a possible reduction in domestic consumption could increase exportable availability, although market factors and margins will still influence the pace of shipments, according to the USDA.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.