Brazil sugarcane harvest: ups and downs
A recent surge in Brazilian sugarcane processing is to be crushed by a gradual reduction owing to the conclusion of milling operations.
The volume of sugarcane processed in the South-Central region of Brazil until 1 November reached 500.88 million tonnes, a 12.64% increase compared with the same period in the 2009-10 harvest.
In the second half of October, crushing reached 30.12 million tonnes, an increase of 15.21% over the previous two-week period, with a total of 26.14 million tonnes.
The crushing volume increased during the final two weeks of October, as the second half of a 31-day month has an extra day for crushing. The industry further experienced favourable weather conditions.
This all looks to change. ‘The outlook is for a gradual reduction in the amount of cane processed in the next two-week period. That is because the number of mills in operation is gradually declining,’ Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association's (UNICA) Technical Director Antonio de Pádua Rodrigues, comments.
By the end of October, 44 mills in the South-Central region had already concluded the 2010-11 harvest. At the same time last year, only five mills had wrapped up their activities for the season.
A survey conducted by UNICA, in partnership with other producer associations in the South-Central region, estimates that by the end of November approximately 140 mills will have ended their operations, against only 15 mills in the previous harvest. These figures confirm the early end of the harvest in several regions, because of low availability of raw material.
Data compiled by the Center for Sugarcane Technology (CTC) shows an 18.41% decline in agricultural productivity of the sugarcane harvested in October, higher than the 15.77% drop observed in September. Overall decline reached 5.75% since the beginning of the harvest.
Source: Biofuels Business
The volume of sugarcane processed in the South-Central region of Brazil until 1 November reached 500.88 million tonnes, a 12.64% increase compared with the same period in the 2009-10 harvest.
In the second half of October, crushing reached 30.12 million tonnes, an increase of 15.21% over the previous two-week period, with a total of 26.14 million tonnes.
The crushing volume increased during the final two weeks of October, as the second half of a 31-day month has an extra day for crushing. The industry further experienced favourable weather conditions.
This all looks to change. ‘The outlook is for a gradual reduction in the amount of cane processed in the next two-week period. That is because the number of mills in operation is gradually declining,’ Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association's (UNICA) Technical Director Antonio de Pádua Rodrigues, comments.
By the end of October, 44 mills in the South-Central region had already concluded the 2010-11 harvest. At the same time last year, only five mills had wrapped up their activities for the season.
A survey conducted by UNICA, in partnership with other producer associations in the South-Central region, estimates that by the end of November approximately 140 mills will have ended their operations, against only 15 mills in the previous harvest. These figures confirm the early end of the harvest in several regions, because of low availability of raw material.
Data compiled by the Center for Sugarcane Technology (CTC) shows an 18.41% decline in agricultural productivity of the sugarcane harvested in October, higher than the 15.77% drop observed in September. Overall decline reached 5.75% since the beginning of the harvest.
Source: Biofuels Business
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