News

Guatemala Sugar Growth Not as Expected

04 May 2012

GUATEMALA - Sugar production in Guatemala has not grown as expected despite the increases in planted area. In MY (market year) 2013, planted area is forecast at 247,000 ha. Sugar yields from cane are forecast to recover to values of MY 2009.

The Guatemalan sugar industry continues to be one of the most efficient in productivity terms, with 90 metric tons (MT)/ha and port loading capacity of 2,200 MT/hour. Guatemala has the largest storage capacity in the Central American region (431,000 MT).

For MY 2011, Guatemala ranked eleventh in the list of major sugar producers worldwide, third in exports in Latin America, and third in competitiveness (utilization/capacity) on a global scale.

Consumption for MY 2013 is placed at 750,000 MT, close to Post’s MY 2012 estimate. Exports for MY 2013 are forecast at 1.7 million tons. Guatemala is the world’s fifth largest exporter (Guatemalan exports represent three per cent of total world exports) and fourth largest producer in Latin America.

The US, South Korea, and Canada continue to be major export markets for raw sugar. The Guatemalan sugar industry continues moving more into the exportation of refined sugar. Less than 10 years ago, raw sugar exports represented 89 per cent of the export market for Guatemala.

By CY 2010, raw sugar exports dropped to 54 per cent, while refined sugar experienced a fourfold increase in its market share, representing 46 per cent of the export market. This evolution has increased the importance of the South American and Caribbean export market for Guatemala, while decreasing significantly Guatemalan sugar exports to Eastern and Central Europe.