Brazil: Sugarcane crushing in Brazil should jump 28.8% in 10 years, the area will grow 12%, predicts EPE

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Sugarcane crushing in Brazil is expected to increase 28.8% by 2032, to 751 million tons, while the planted area will increase approximately 12% in the period, according to a study prepared by the Energy Research Company (EPE) and released by the Ministry of Mines and Energy this Wednesday. The projection considers important gains in productivity per hectare, while the sugarcane area will increase from 8.2 million to 9.2 million hectares. Of the total processed, 56% will be destined for the manufacture of ethanol, while the rest will go to produce sugar. EPE also cited the implementation of seven production units, adding 18.5 million hectares and reactivation of plants with a capacity of 6 million hectares. “The reduction of production costs, the efficiency of the production process and the increase in the competitiveness of ethanol compared to gasoline, associated with the need to increase ethanol production capacity, will motivate investments in greenfield ...