India’s cumulative ethanol supplies have crossed the 800-crore-litre mark during Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, with grain-based feedstocks accounting for around 76 per cent of total supplies in July, according to data compiled by the All India Distillers’ Association (AIDA).
A total of 93 crore litres of ethanol was supplied in July, taking cumulative supplies beyond the 800-crore-litre milestone. Of the monthly supplies, 71 crore litres came from grain-based feedstocks, compared with 75 crore litres out of 103 crore litres supplied in June.
As a result, the share of grain-based ethanol increased to around 76 per cent in July from approximately 73 per cent in June, despite a decline in overall monthly supplies.
Maize and surplus Food Corporation of India (FCI) grains were the major contributors to grain-based ethanol production, supplying 30 crore litres each in July. Together, they accounted for nearly 85 per cent of grain-based supplies during the month. Damaged food grains contributed another 11 crore litres.
Meanwhile, sugarcane-based feedstocks accounted for 22 crore litres in July, down from 28 crore litres in June. Their share of total supplies declined to around 24 per cent from 27 per cent during the previous month.
Within the sugarcane-based segment, B-Heavy Molasses contributed 17 crore litres, while Sugarcane Juice and C-Heavy Molasses accounted for 4 crore litres and 1 crore litre, respectively.
All India Distillers’ Association Deputy Director General Bharati Balaji said crossing the 800-crore-litre mark represented an important milestone for India’s ethanol programme and reflected the scale achieved by the domestic industry.
She said the increase in the share of grain-based ethanol, particularly from maize and surplus FCI grains, demonstrated the industry’s ability to respond through multiple feedstocks and a growing production base.
Balaji also stressed the need to create adequate demand to utilise the expanding production capacity. She said higher ethanol blending, wider adoption of Flex-Fuel Vehicles and increased applications of ethanol could help unlock the potential of the ecosystem developed over the past decade.
-ANI
