Sugar & Sugarcane Ethanol in India
Sugarcane ethanol is produced from cane juice, syrup, B-heavy and C-heavy molasses. It was the foundation of India's ethanol programme and remains a major feedstock, with sugar mills diverting cane to ethanol to balance sugar surpluses and improve realisations.
Sugarcane ethanol is produced from cane juice, syrup, B-heavy and C-heavy molasses. It was the foundation of India's ethanol programme and remains a major feedstock, with sugar mills diverting cane to ethanol to balance sugar surpluses and improve realisations.
of India's ethanol programme
juice, syrup, B-heavy, C-heavy molasses
balances sugar surplus
attached to most large sugar mills
Routes from cane to ethanol
Mills produce ethanol from cane juice, syrup and molasses grades, choosing routes based on sugar prices, diversion policy and distillery configuration. Diversion of cane to ethanol helps manage domestic sugar surpluses.
Economics for sugar mills
Ethanol provides sugar mills with assured, faster cash flows than sugar exports, supporting timely cane-payment to farmers and improving balance sheets — a core reason mills invested heavily in distillation.
Balancing sugar and fuel
Policy calibrates how much cane is diverted to ethanol versus sugar, balancing food security, exports and blending needs — a recurring theme for producers and policymakers at the forum.