Brazil Guarani expects to crush 18.4m t sugar cane in 2012/13 crop year

Sep 19, 2012 - Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer Acucar Guarani SA expects to process 18.4 million tonnes of sugar cane during the current 2012/13 crop year, the company's president, Jacyr Costa Filho, said yesterday.

This target though, will only be met if the recent drought is followed by some rainfalls in the next months.

The lack of rain helps crop, but also brings some operating problems, such as prohibition of sugar cane burning and overheating of the processing equipment, Costa Filho explained.

Up-to-date, the company has processed 65% of the planned volume in its last sugar cane crushing estimate, which stood at 18.2 million tonnes.

Guarani's president, however, warned that if the weather continues very dry crushing might shrink to 18 million tonnes.

Guarani, which is a subsidiary of Brazil-based sector player Tereos Internacional (SAO:TERI3), has planted 56,000 ha (138,379 acres) of new sugar cane and bets on boosting processed volumes in the next 2013/14 crop year, Costa Filho also noted.

In total, the company has 280,000 ha of sugarcane plantations, including own and suppliers-owned.

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