The sugarcane harvest ends the 2024/25 cycle with an estimated production of 676.96 million tons, a reduction of 5.1% when compared to the 2023/24 harvest. Even so, this is the second largest volume harvested in the historical series of the National Supply Company (Conab). The drop is a reflection of the low rainfall levels, combined with the high temperatures recorded in the Center-South Region, which represents 91% of the country's total production, harming the harvest that is ending. In addition, the burning of sugarcane fields was another factor that negatively affected the performance of crops in the current harvest, as the fire consumed several sugarcane plots in full production. These adverse conditions recorded throughout the season negatively influenced the average productivity, which stood at 77,223 kilos per hectare. The data are in the 4th Survey on the crop released this Thursday (17) by the Company.

In the Southeast, the country's main sugarcane producing region, there was a 6.3% drop in the harvested volume, totaling 439.6 million tons. The harvested area was 5.48 million hectares, an increase of 7.5% compared to the 2023/24 season. This increase, however, was not enough to recover the losses recorded by the 12.8% drop in productivity, estimated at 80,181 kilos per hectare. In the Central-West region, another important producing region in the country, the harvest remained close to stability, reaching 145.3 million tons - a slight increase of 0.2%. As in the Southeast, the area grew 4%, reaching 1.85 million hectares, while productivity was 3.7% lower, projected at 78,540 kilos per hectare. In the Northeast region, the 2024/25 harvest is nearing completion, estimated at 54.4 million tons, a 3.7% drop compared to the previous harvest. The result was influenced by water restrictions in the region, reducing average crop yields, since the harvested area increased by 1.6%, reaching 897.5 thousand hectares.

In the South region, Conab found a drop in both area and productivity, with production estimated at 33.6 million tons, a volume 13.2% lower than the previous cycle. In the North of the country, the outlook is the opposite. With an estimated harvest of 4 million tons, area and productivity increased by 1.4% and 1.1% in the 2024/25 cycle, respectively.

Byproducts – With the lower volume of sugarcane harvested, there was a 3.4% drop in sugar production in the country, estimated at 44.1 million tons. Despite the reduction in relation to the last harvest, the season that is ending presents the second largest production of the sweetener in the Conab historical series. This good result is a reflection of the favorable market for the product, which meant that a large part of the raw material was destined for the production of sugar.

The country registered a growth of 4.4% in the total production of ethanol, reaching 37.2 billion liters, even with the drop of 1.1% for the fuel produced from the crushing of sugarcane, impacted by the unfavorable weather conditions of the sugarcane crops, with a total of 29.35 billion liters. The good result is due to the increase in ethanol produced from corn. In this harvest, approximately 7.84 billion liters came from the cereal, an increase of 32.4% compared to the 2024/23 cycle.

Market – Brazilian sugar exports remain at high levels, consolidating Brazil as the main global supplier of the product. At the end of the 2024/25 harvest, sugar volumes remained stable compared to the previous harvest, at 35.1 million tons. However, revenue was US$ 16.7 billion, a drop of 8.2% compared to the revenue from the last harvest, due to the scenario of lower prices.

On the other hand, Brazilian ethanol exports in the 2024/25 harvest closed with a shipped volume of 1.75 billion liters of ethanol, a drop of 31% compared to the volume of the 2023/24 harvest. However, in recent years, corn ethanol has been gaining increasing relevance in the country's fuel matrix. The increase in production in new units and the increased efficiency of existing plants contribute to an additional supply, complementing the supply during the sugarcane off-season and helping to maintain a certain stability in domestic ethanol prices.

Source: Notícias Agrícolas