Greater supply and more moderate prices should mark crop season 26/27

The global sugar market is heading towards a more relaxed supply scenario throughout the 2026/27 crop year. In Brazil, the world's largest producer and exporter, there is an expectation of an advance in sugarcane crushing in the Central-South region, supported by the recovery of rainfall at the end of 2025, a moderate expansion of the area, and climatic conditions closer to the historical average. Production may exceed 620 million tons of sugarcane, which increases the potential supply of the sweetener, although agricultural yield depends on summer rainfall. According to researchers at Cepea, the increase in crushing does not guarantee, however, a strong increase in sugar production. With a global environment projecting a high surplus and good availability in the main players – such as Brazil, India, and Thailand – the sector tends to calibrate the mix between sugar and ethanol. The mandatory blend of 30% anhydrous ethanol in gasoline and the advancement of corn ethanol production ...