Brazil's 2015/16 center-south cane crush is projected to reach 590 million tonnes, slightly higher than a previous view of 587 million tonnes and up from last year's 571 million tonnes, consultancy JOB Economia said on Thursday. Sugar production in the 2015/16 center-south crop will reach 29.9 million tonnes, versus 32.3 million tonnes from JOB's previous estimate and 31.96 million tonnes seen in the 2014/15.
Center-south ethanol production is projected at 27.7 billion liters, 700 million liters higher than in the previous forecast. Last year the region produced 26.1 billion liters. JOB Economia has also released estimates for Brazil's Northeast cane region, which is about to start processing its crop. The region has a different crushing period from the main center-south region, since its dry period occurs during the Southern Hemisphere's summer in Brazil. JOB's director Julio Maria Borges said the Northeast will have a smaller crop in 2015/16, at 56 million tonnes, versus 59.4 million in the previous season.