Brazil's sugar exports grow 162% in February, coffee shipments rise 77%

By Roberto Samora and Marcelo Teixeira SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Sugar exports from Brazil, the world's largest producer of the sweetener, increased 162% in February compared to the same month last year, to 3.02 million metric tons, the country's Ministry of Commerce said. on Wednesday. The unusually high export for a month when Brazil is in the off-season shows how the world is relying more on abundant sugar supplies at Brazilian ports after a record harvest, at a time of poor harvests in Asia. India, the second-largest sugar producer, is harvesting a smaller crop and the government has blocked exports to ensure local supplies. Drier than normal weather in central-southern Brazil in the first months of the year allowed sugar exports to perform at a high level at the main port of Santos, Plínio Nastari, president of consultancy Datagro, said on Wednesday. The first quarter is generally a wet period in Brazil, which normally affects port activities. Datagro projects March exports at ...