About 156 sugar mills that have started the crushing season in the State have produced 115.42 lakh tonnes (lt) of sugar as of now in the ongoing crushing season. 

Per the data provided by the Sugar Commissioner’s office, 156 mills have crushed 146.23 lt sugarcane with an average extract percentage of 7.89. In the Kolhapur division, the highest number of mills (34) including 22 cooperative and 12 private mills have started crushing season. In Nanded only eight cooperative mills have started the season, while 18 private mills are operating.

In Nagpur, only one sugar mill has started crushing season while in Amravati two mills are operational.       

Mills in the State are speeding up operations because of the delayed start to the season. The Assembly elections delayed the season as sugarcane cutters were stuck in Marathwada due to elections and came to western Maharashtra only after November 23.