Brazil: Minas Gerais predicts record sugarcane harvest in 2024/25, despite drought

Minas Gerais is on track to record a new record in the 2024/25 sugarcane harvest, despite the challenges imposed by weather conditions. According to the National Supply Company (Conab), the state is expected to harvest 81.8 million tons, an increase of 0.6% compared to the last harvest, consolidating another historic milestone for local production. Although adverse weather factors have affected crops, the impact on productivity is still considered small. Conab indicates a 1.7% drop in the average yield per hectare, with an expectation of 86.1 tons of sugarcane per hectare. On the other hand, the area allocated to cultivation expanded by 2.3%, totaling 950 thousand hectares, which partially offset the reduction in productivity. Mário Campos, president of the Association of Sugar and Energy Industries of Minas Gerais (Siamig Bioenergia), stated that Conab's estimates are in line with the sector's expectations. However, he highlighted that the prolonged drought could impact ...