Zafranet: Mexico’s Sliding Cane and Sucrose Yields

Insight Focus

  • Mexican sugar production has remained in an average range of 5.8m-6.2m tonnes.
  • The rise in harvested area has not been reflected in sugar production as yields haven’t grown since 2012.
  • Investments in the farms and mills have not been at the necessary pace.
undefined

This report was produced by Zafranet Communications, a consulting company on sugar cane, sweeteners and sustainability in Mexico.

Sugar Production is maintained, but the Res decrease

  • Sugar production has remained in an average range excluding the drought-hit 2019/20 season.
undefined
  • However, during this period, there was noticeable a drop in both cane and sugar yields.
  • The current trend is that more and more cane isneeded to produce the same volume of sugar.
  • This is because field and factory yields have not risen and/or have been decreasing.
undefined
  • In short, the Mexican industry is producing less cane per hectare harvested.
  • And the amount of sugar per tonne of cane has not increased either.
undefined
  • The increase in the area harvested has offset low yields and kept Mexican production stable.
undefined
  • Without this increase, sugar production in Mexico would have been falling year on year.


Why have yields been down?

  • There are several factors influencing the decline in yields.
  • The lack of renovations in the cane field and the age of the cane are the main factors affecting yields.
  • Along with the lack of renovation, most cane is harvested by hand.
  • This means that the cane must be burned before being harvested, both of these factors make the process less effective compared with machine harvesting.
undefined
  • Irrigation systems are better for cane performance.
  • However, there is not enough investment to increase the number of irrigation systems.
  • Improvements in technology, best farming practices, better seeds, have not been deployed.
undefined
  • Another factor that is affecting yields is the amount of time the cut cane is left and/or in long transfers before being processed.
  • If this trend continues, the market will have to offset the decline in yields with higher prices to stimulate investment in the farms and mills.

     

Other Insights That May Be of Interest …

Czapp’s Sugar Consumption Case Studies

Sign Up For Your Free Account On Czapp

Want to receive free tailored notifications straight to your inbox?

Join Czapp
SAF pode ser um impulsionador de demanda para etanol e milho

SAF Could Create Demand Driver For Ethanol, Corn

  • If SAF production can be scaled up, it will create a major new demand driver for corn ethanol.
  • But US authorities are lagging behind in finalising guidelines.
  • A Brazilian company has been given the green light to produce SAF from corn ethanol.

Frank Zaworski

1 week ago

3 min

How Do We Make Sustainable Aviation Fuel?

  • Jet A needs to have certain characteristics to be classified as SAF.
  • But what happens when new feedstocks are being developed?
  • Certain processes need to be followed to ensure the fuel’s properties remain the same.
Adelia Lei

John Buxton

2 weeks ago

2 min