The international sugar market opened higher on Monday, January 5. In New York, the March/26 contract rose by 1.30% to 14.79 cents per pound. In Brazil, the upcoming 2026/27 sugarcane harvest is projected to reach 660.2 million tons, a slight increase of 0.95% from the previous season. However, sugar production is expected to decline by 3.91% to 41.8 million tons, while exports are forecast to drop 11% to 30 million tons. The shift reflects greater focus on ethanol, whose production is anticipated to grow 4.1% to 20.3 billion liters. Corn-based hydrous ethanol output is also set to rise, from 3.85 billion to 4 billion liters.
Sources: Notícias Agrícolas/Safras & Mercado (*Translated by Ia Niani)