Day: September 27, 2017

Mills in Brazil’s Centre-South region produced 3.13 million tonne of sugar in the first fortnight of September, up 29.2% from 2.42 million tonne produced a year ago. Centre-South Brazil accounts for over 90% of the country’s total sugar output. Mills in the region crushed 45.44 million tonne of cane during Sep 1-15, up 20% on year. During Apr 1-Sep 15, mills crushed 427 million tonne of cane, down 1.6% on year. During the same period, mills produced 26.39 million tonne sugar, up 5.9% on year. Of the total cane crushed, around 48.4% was used for sugar production, while 51.6% was used to make ethanol. Mills in the region are likely to produce 35.2 million tonne of sugar this season, marginally lower than 35.6 million tonne produced in 2016-17 (Apr-Mar).

Futures contracts of sugar 11 fell to a one-month low of 13.11 cents a pound on the ICE due to a higher-than-expected rise in the output of sugar in the Centre-South region of Brazil. The October contract of sugar 11 ended at 13.21 cents a pound, down 3.9%, while the most active March futures closed 3.1% lower at 13.91 cents a pound.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade has reallocated quota for the import of 92,660 tonne raw sugar at 25% duty. Subsequent to the allocation of quota for import of sugar on Sep 13, nine applicants had surrendered their allocated quota. Some sugar mills surrendered their quota as the quantity allocated to them was very low and imports would have be unviable. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade had received a total of 35 applications for import of raw sugar, much higher than anticipated.

Prices of sugar fell in the key wholesale markets of the country due to increased selling pressure on mills. Prices of the commodity have declined due to increased selling pressure on mills as the government has imposed stockholding limits on them. The government has imposed stockholding limits on sugar mills for September and October to keep prices in check ahead of major festivals.