Nicaragua's Sugar Production Expected to Increase 18 Per Cent

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Nicaragua's Sugar Production Expected to Increase 18 Per Cent

27 April 2012

NICARAGUA - In the 2011/2012 season, the Nicaraguan cane and sugar cane production is expected to reach to 6,068,831.80MT and 603,727.27 MT respectively, an 18 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

This is attributed to a nine per cent increase in planted areas and an eight per cent increase in yields, due to the favourable climatic conditions of the 2011 season.

In 2011, the largest sugar mill of Nicaragua, Ingenio San Antonio (ISA), went back to ethanol production. ISA produced 10,000,000 liters which will be exported to the US in 2012. If international oil prices remain high, there is a great chance for Nicaraguan ethanol exports to increase.

For FY 2012, Nicaragua plans to ship its full US WTO and DR-CAFTA sugar quota allocation.

If there is any sugar reallocation, Nicaragua could supply up to 30,000 MT. The Sugar Commission of Nicaragua (NSC) estimates a 20 per cent increase in sugar cane production by 2015, reaching over 735,924 MT. This estimate comes from the expansion plans in planted areas of Monte Rosa, Benjamin Zeledon and Montelimar sugar mills.