Pakistan’s sugar industry has reported mixed regional performance during the first phase of the 2025–26 crushing season, with Punjab showing strong growth, Sindh facing a decline, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) recording steady output. Despite regional disparities, overall recovery rates have improved across the country, supported by better cane quality and enhanced mill efficiency.
Punjab: Strong Growth in Production and Sales
Punjab’s sugar mills delivered a strong performance during the first 45 days of the crushing season.
Key Figures (Punjab – as of Dec 31, 2025)
- 🌾 Sugarcane crushed: 15.06 million metric tons
- 🏭 Sugar produced: 1.36 million metric tons
- ⚡ Average recovery rate: 9.43% (up from 9.01% last year)
This improvement reflects better sugarcane quality and improved operational efficiency across mills.
Stock and Sales Position
- 📦 Total available sugar (including carryover): 1.47 million metric tons
- 🛒 Sugar sold: 625,341 metric tons (42.41%)
- 📈 Sales increase: 3.84% higher than last year
Year-on-year comparison shows:
- Crushing increased by 1.14 million metric tons
- Production rose by 156,590 metric tons
Punjab continues to lead national output and maintain relatively stable supply conditions.
Sindh: Lower Output but Improved Recovery
Sindh reported a decline in overall production despite slightly improved efficiency.
Key Figures (Sindh)
- 🌾 Sugarcane crushed: 4.65 million metric tons
- 🏭 Sugar produced: 430,274 metric tons
- ⚡ Recovery rate: 9.76% (up from 9.19% last year)
Year-on-Year Change
- Crushing declined by 25.78%
- Production fell by 23.36%
Stock Position
- 📦 Total available stock: 392,833 metric tons
- 🛒 Sold: 37,441 metric tons (~8.7%)
Experts attribute slower sales to logistical restrictions in Balochistan, which have impacted movement and distribution of stocks.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): Stable Output with High Recovery
KP maintained steady performance with the highest recovery rate among provinces.
Key Figures (KP)
- 🌾 Sugarcane crushed: 1.135 million metric tons
- 🏭 Sugar produced: 111,488 metric tons
- ⚡ Recovery rate: 10.17% (highest among provinces)
Stock Position
- 📦 Total stock (including carryover): 117,601 metric tons
- 🛒 Sold: 30,319 metric tons (25.18%)
- 📦 Remaining stock: 87,282 metric tons
Farmers’ Payments and Price Trends
On the financial side:
- 🌾 Farmers supplied sugarcane worth PKR 9.88 billion
- 💰 Payments made: PKR 8.7 billion (88%)
- 📊 Average cane price: PKR 401 per 40 kg (up from PKR 387 last year)
Market Prices
- 🏷 Punjab ex-mill sugar price: PKR 139 per kg
- 🏷 Sindh ex-mill sugar price: PKR 134 per kg
- 📉 Further price decline expected as supply increases
Conclusion
The 2025–26 sugar crushing season reflects a divided but improving national outlook, with Punjab driving overall growth, KP maintaining strong recovery efficiency, and Sindh facing a notable production decline.
Improved recovery rates across all provinces indicate better crop quality and enhanced milling performance, which is helping stabilize supply conditions in the domestic market. However, regional disparities in output and distribution constraints continue to influence market dynamics.
With ex-mill prices already trending downward, the market is expected to remain under mild downward pressure as supply increases in the coming weeks. If crushing activity remains steady and logistical challenges are addressed, Pakistan’s sugar sector may achieve a more balanced supply position with improved affordability for consumers and stable returns for farmers.
The Agri-Crop editorial team comprises commodity market analysts, rice trade specialists, and agriculture industry professionals based in Pakistan. We track daily price movements, export data, and policy developments across Pakistan’s key agricultural sectors.
