Sugarcane CCS & The Sugar in Your Cane
Recovers sucrose
Enter Brix and Pol to get the Commercial Cane Sugar (CCS%) — the recoverable sugar mills pay growers on — plus the sugar per tonne of cane.
Estimate cane sugar (CCS)
Next: aim to harvest at peak maturity when Pol and CCS are highest; at 12.6% CCS each tonne of cane yields about 126 kg of sugar.
CCS is computed from Brix and Pol (CCS% = (Pol − 0.4×(Brix − Pol)) × 0.73). Mills pay on CCS, so harvest at full ripeness and avoid staleness, which lowers recovery.
Sugar recovery (CCS) — key facts
- CCS formula
- [Pol − 0.4(Brix − Pol)] × 0.73
- Brix
- total dissolved solids in juice
- Pol
- apparent sucrose (polarimeter)
- Typical CCS
- ≈ 10–12%
- Sugar/tonne
- ≈ CCS% × 10 kg
- Paid on
- CCS at the mill gate
- Best CCS
- mature cane, crushed fresh
- Privacy
- Runs in your browser; nothing uploaded
The number that sets your cane price
Mills don't pay for cane by the tonne alone — they pay for the sugar inside it. That sugar is captured in one figure, the Commercial Cane Sugar percentage, worked out from two lab readings: Brix, the total solids in the juice, and Pol, the apparent sucrose. The CCS formula docks the non-sugar solids and converts juice purity to recoverable cane sugar, so a grower with cleaner, riper cane is rewarded with a higher CCS and a better cheque.
This tool returns the CCS %, the sugar per tonne, and your Brix and Pol from the readings you enter. Use it to gauge cane maturity, compare varieties or fields, and estimate what the mill should pay before settlement. Pair it with the Jaggery Yield, Value Addition Profit and Ratoon Crop Yield tools to plan the whole cane economy.
Know the recovery
See the CCS that drives your mill payment.
Judge maturity
Higher CCS means cane is ready to cut.
Compare lots
Rank fields and varieties by sugar content.
Estimate returns
Turn CCS into sugar per tonne of cane.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CCS (Commercial Cane Sugar)?+
CCS is the recoverable sugar in cane expressed as a percentage of cane weight — the share of the crop a mill can actually turn into sugar. It is the basis on which mills pay growers, so a higher CCS means more sugar per tonne and a better price. Typical CCS runs about 10–12% for good cane.
How is CCS calculated from Brix and Pol?+
The standard formula is CCS ≈ [Pol − 0.4(Brix − Pol)] × 0.73, where Pol is the apparent sucrose and Brix is the total dissolved solids. The 0.4(Brix − Pol) term penalises the non-sugar solids and the 0.73 factor converts juice purity to recoverable cane sugar. This tool applies it for you.
What are Brix and Pol?+
Brix is the total dissolved solids in the juice (mostly sugars, measured with a refractometer or hydrometer), while Pol is the apparent sucrose content measured by polarimeter. Pol is always lower than Brix because Brix includes non-sugar solids; the gap between them reflects juice impurity.
What is a good CCS for sugarcane?+
Most sound, mature cane gives a CCS of about 10–12%, and well-managed varieties at peak maturity can exceed that. Below roughly 9% the cane is immature, stale, or stressed. Harvesting at the right maturity, crushing promptly, and avoiding lodging or water stress all lift CCS.
How much sugar do I get per tonne of cane?+
Sugar per tonne ≈ CCS% × 10 kg. So cane at 11% CCS yields about 110 kg of sugar per tonne. This tool shows the sugar per tonne directly, which is handy for estimating returns and comparing cane lots or varieties at the mill gate.
Why does Brix matter if Pol gives the sugar?+
Brix sets the ceiling and the impurity penalty. Two canes with the same Pol but different Brix differ in purity — the one with higher Brix relative to Pol carries more non-sugar solids that interfere with crystallisation, so the CCS formula docks recoverable sugar for that gap.
When should I harvest to maximise CCS?+
Harvest at full maturity, when sucrose has peaked and the cane has stopped putting on top growth — often signalled by a Brix reading that is even from bottom to top of the stalk. Crush within a day or two of cutting, because standing or cut cane loses sucrose to inversion and respiration quickly.
Does this work for any sugarcane variety or region?+
Yes — the Brix–Pol–CCS relationship is universal across cane varieties and growing regions. Just enter the Brix and Pol measured for your cane and the tool returns the CCS and sugar per tonne; mills worldwide use the same basic chemistry to value cane.
Are the figures exact?+
They are solid estimates. Real mill recovery also depends on extraction efficiency, processing losses and exact analytical methods, and the 0.4 and 0.73 factors can vary slightly by mill or country. Use this for planning and comparison, and confirm settlement figures with your mill's lab.