Sugar Production in Brazil Drops in Second Half of September

São Paulo. Sugar production in the central-southern region of Brazil during the second half of September is estimated to have fallen to 2.7 million tonnes, a 14.3 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. Persistent heavy rainfall during this period significantly disrupted sugarcane harvesting and hindered the transport of the crop to sugar mills.

It is noteworthy that Brazil is the world's leading producer and exporter of sugar. Approximately 90 percent of the country's sugar is produced in the central-southern region, with São Paulo being the largest producing state. The region experienced torrential rains last month.

During the period under review, total sugarcane crushing in the central-southern region is estimated to have declined by 5.5 percent to 38.73 million tonnes. Trade analysts report that rainfall prevented sugarcane crushing for a duration equivalent to about two and a half days between September 16 and 30, following a loss of approximately six days of crushing activity during the first half of the month (September 1–15).

The heavy rainfall also impacted sugarcane quality. Consequently, the average sugar recovery rate dropped from 15.76 percent (157.62 kg per tonne) last year to 14.58 percent (145.75 kg per tonne). This means that 145.75 kg of sugar was produced from crushing one tonne (1,000 kg) of sugarcane. During the period of September 1–15, 2025, 51.26 percent of sugarcane in the central-southern region was utilized for sugar production, whereas during the same period in 2026, this figure dropped to 50.28 percent.