The production of sugarcane in Brazil for the 2006/2007 crop is expected to be 471.2 million tons. If confirmed, this would be the greatest crop in the sector’s history.
This estimate is by the Brazilian National Food Supply Company (Conab), and is based on the second crop analysis, disclosed today, August 31.
The estimated value is 9.2% greater than the crop in the previous harvest, which was 431.4 million tons. According to technicians at the Conab, the growth is due to good climate conditions in the Northeast, which helped compensate the reduction in production in the Midwest.
The study was executed by 45 technicians in the first fortnight of August. A total of 392 representatives of mills, distilleries, unions, associations and public and private organizations were interviewed. The third and last study will take place in November.
Estimates earlier this year by the National Food Supply Company (Conab) talked about 469.8 million tons of sugarcane being picked the next crop.
The São Paulo Sugar Cane Agroindustry Union (Unica) has forecasted foreign sales of 19.4 million in the 2006/2007 crop, whose harvest began in April and should follow through to November. In the previous harvest, 16.6 million tons were exported.
"The greater sugarcane production is going to result in more alcohol and sugar and further availability for exports," said Eugênio Stefanelo, technician at the Conab and professor at the Federal University of Paraná.
