Sugar production in the center-south should jump in a favorable year for Brazil, says Datagro

By Roberto Samora SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Sugar production in south-central Brazil was estimated on Wednesday at 38.3 million tons in 2023/24 (April/March), up 13.1% compared to previous season, estimated the Datagro consultancy, which projects another year of remunerative prices, while competitors in the country are embittered by climate problems and smaller harvests. This increase will take place as the sugarcane harvest in the main producing region of Brazil will grow 6.9%, to 590 million tons, and with mills allocating more raw material to the manufacture of the sweetener than seen in the previous cycle, according to the president of Datagro, Plinio Nastari. The "mix" for sugar was estimated at 48% of the cane processed in the center-south, versus 45.6% in the previous season, with mills being attracted by a better remuneration of the sweetener in relation to ethanol. "The main message is that it is a big harvest, while the world is suffering from crop failures, as is happening ...