Datagro, a consultancy firm, has revised its estimate for Brazil’s sugar cane crushing in the 2023/24 season. It is now expected to reach 606.5 million metric tons, up from the previous estimate of 598.50 million metric tons. This increase is attributed to favorable weather conditions, particularly steady rainfall that has benefited the cane fields.
In a statement, Datagro’s agronomist team from the Crop Survey highlighted that Brazil has continued to see a rise in tonnage due to the ample rainfall observed until early May. This has positively impacted the conditions of the cane fields, which are now poised for harvesting in the final phase of the season. The team also noted that mills are demonstrating a commitment to maximizing crushing operations and prioritizing sugar production this season.
Datagro further predicts that Brazil’s sugar production for the 2023/24 season will reach a record-breaking 39.1 million metric tons, surpassing the previous record of 38.47 million tonnes achieved in the 2020/21 season. Additionally, Datagro anticipates a 7.9% increase in ethanol production from sugarcane and corn, reaching 31.19 billion liters. This growth is primarily driven by an upsurge in corn-based biofuels, with production expected to jump 21.8% to 5.4 billion liters compared to the previous season.
To mitigate potential work disruptions caused by El Nino-related rainfall forecasts, mills in Brazil have been setting daily crushing records, according to Datagro. Their proactive approach aims to prevent delays or stoppages in operations and maintain production momentum.
