The five Central American nations will produce 4.17 million tonnes and export 2.51 million tonnes of sugar in the 2006/07 harvest, the regional sugar board that said on Tuesday.
In its first crop projection, the Sugar Growers of the Central American Isthmus said that Guatemala, the major producer in the region, would see total output reach 2.28 million tonnes with exports projected at 1.62 million tonnes.
Industry officials throughout the region have said that virtually all of the exports expected in 2006/07 have already been sold. Harvesting begins this month and will reach a peak in January.