Brazil to cut sugar exports by 14pc as mills shift to ethanol

BRASILIA: Brazil, the world’s largest sugar producer and exporter, is expected to cut shipments in the 2026/27 season that starts in April by 14.2 percent as mills divert sugarcane to make ethanol due to high energy prices, consultancy Safras & Mercado said on Thursday.

Safras projects total Brazilian sugar exports in the new season, including the Center-South and North/Northeast regions, at 29 million metric tons, compared to 33.8 million tons in 2025/26.

The consultancy said in a crop report that Brazil’s total sugar production would fall to 40.3 million tons in 2026/27 from 43.5 million tons in the previous crop.

Total ethanol production, including fuel made with corn, would increase 10.7 percent to 42.58 billion liters.