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Brazilian state to build 10 ethanol and sugar plants
4th April, 2008
The southern Brazilian state of Paraná will construct 10 ethanol and sugar plants due for operation in 2010.
The state is the country's second largest ethanol producer and the fourth largest sugar producer. Planted area for sugarcane is set to increase by 16.5% in the 2007/2008 crop.
In 2007, two new units entered into operation. Another unit should be inaugurated this year, and by 2010 nine others are expected to join the 23 active plants.
According to the Association of Alcohol and Sugar Producers of the State of Paraná (Alcopar), in the 2005/2006 crop the state ranked as the second largest Brazilian ethanol producer. Production totalled 1.042 million m3, against 9.951 million in the state of São Paulo.
The Secretariat of Agriculture estimates that the 2007/2008 sugarcane crop might reach 55.2 million tonnes, which would represent an increase of 16.5% over the previous crop. Planted area should rise from 536,071 hectares to 622,506 hectares.
Last year, the state of Paraná exported 1.465 million tonnes of sugar, generating revenues of $384.4 million (€245 million) for the state.
