Mills in Parana are giving rise to the production of processing of sugar, instead of ethanol. This is due to the drop of the sugarcane crop (6%) in Brazil’s Center-South because of the drought, and the growth of sugar in the international market. A 50-kilogram bag of sugar was R$90 in June last year, this year it is R$117. As a result, pressure on the price of fuel also increases. In May, a liter of hydrous ethanol was R$1.88, while in May 2020 it was R$3.57. The economist at the Federation of Industries of Paraná (Fiep), Marcelo Alves, says that the mills in the state have gained from new buyers. “This year we have seen Iran, Switzerland and China, which are not traditional buyers of sugar from Paraná, choosing our product”, say Alves. Paraná is the third largest sugar producer in Brazil. Approximately 90% of Paraná’s sugar production is exported to Iraq, Algeria, Canada, Malaysia, Iran, Bangladesh and Russia.
Source: Nova Cana (*Translated by Ia Niani)