Brazil boosts sugar cane production
Spurred by market demand for sweeteners and ethanol fuel, Brazil increased its sugar cane processing by double-digit margins this summer.
According to Bloomberg News and the Center-South Sugar and Ethanol Industry Association, mills in Brazil's Center-South region, which produces about 85 percent of Brazilian sugar cane, production through mid-July was up 22 percent over compared to the same time period last year. Ethanol output rose 13 percent from 2005 to a.6 billion gallons.
Brazil is the world largest sugar producer and exporter. Industry estimates say 50 percent of the cane harvested this year is being used to produce ethanol fuel.