भाषा:

From 1 November 2026, sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses are out of India’s ethanol supply for the 2026-27 oil company tenders, and the industry is expected to lean more on other feedstocks such as maize and rice. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum left these feedstocks out of their latest tenders. Because maize is also the main energy grain in poultry feed, poultry and dairy feed buyers are watching what happens to maize demand and to DDGS, the by-product of grain distilling.

Key facts

ItemDetail
Effective date1 November 2026
Left out of tendersSugarcane juice, sugar syrup and B-heavy molasses
Oil companiesIndian Oil, Bharat Petroleum, Hindustan Petroleum
Reason reportedProtect domestic sugar stocks after uneven monsoon rain in Maharashtra and Karnataka
Relief for millsOctober 2026 production can be sold through November
Other feedstocksC-heavy molasses, damaged food grains, maize, rice
Cane-linked share at peak65 to 75% of ethanol delivered to oil companies in the past two years
Maize ethanol incentive priceCut to ₹68.86 per litre from ₹71.86
FCI rice stock40.3 million tonnes, about three times the 13.58 million tonne norm

None of the sources gives a total ethanol volume or a maize quantity, so we do not state one.

Why it is happening

The reported reason is sugar security. Uneven monsoon in Maharashtra and Karnataka raised worry about cane and sugar stocks, so the curb was presented as a way to keep sugar from being diverted into fuel. Ethanol from cane juice and B-heavy molasses usually earns mills better margins than ethanol from C-heavy molasses, so this is a real change for sugar mills.

When cane feedstocks are shut, distillers must fill the gap with grain or other molasses. India Energy Notes points to the large rice stock in FCI godowns and a lower incentive price for maize-based ethanol. In our reading, that tilts the policy towards using rice and away from adding more pressure on maize. This is an interpretation, and the final mix will show only in tender results and allocations.

What it means for poultry and dairy farmers

Maize competes with poultry feed for the same grain. In recent months, ethanol demand for maize has been a talking point for feed makers and poultry farmers. If distillers lean more on maize, mandi prices can firm up. If they lean on rice, the pressure is smaller. Nobody can say yet which way it will go, so a farmer should plan for both.

There is a second link. Grain distilleries produce DDGS, a protein-rich by-product used in livestock feed. More grain distilling can mean more DDGS in the market, which feed mills can use as a partial protein source. DDGS quality varies by batch, so mills and farmers should check protein level and moisture before using it. Dairy farmers buying compound cattle feed should ask whether DDGS is in the formula.

What farmers should do now

  • Track maize mandi rates weekly. Keep a note of your nearest mandi and your feed mill’s quote so you see a trend early.
  • Do not stock for months. Maize stored without proper drying invites fungus and aflatoxin. Buy for 3 to 4 weeks unless you have dry, ventilated storage.
  • Ask for the ration formula. Know how much maize, soybean meal, rice bran or DDGS your feed contains, so you can judge price changes.
  • Check feed quality. Look at colour, smell, moisture and presence of mould before accepting a lot.
  • Work out feed cost per bird or per litre of milk. That number tells you when a price move truly hurts.
  • Join with neighbours. A group order of 5 to 10 tonnes often gets a better rate than small lots.
  • Do not change feed suddenly. Mix new feed gradually over 3 to 4 days to avoid digestive upset.

Frequently asked questions

Does this mean maize will become costlier?

Not necessarily. It depends on how much grain distillers use and whether they pick rice over maize. The final tender results will show the direction.

What is DDGS?

DDGS is the dried grain left after starch is turned into ethanol. It is richer in protein than the original grain and is used in livestock feed.

Why was the maize ethanol price cut?

India Energy Notes reports the cut from ₹71.86 to ₹68.86 per litre but the source we read does not explain the reason, so we do not guess.

Source: Whalesbook, 19 Oct 2026, with figures from India Energy Notes, 21 Oct 2026. Written by the IMN Pyrophos team in our own words.

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