The Market

In recent years the market for sugar and ethanol has drawn much attention from a range of investors and today this is one of the segments of greatest prominence in the Brazilian economy. Currently in Brazil there are about 450 sugarcane processing plants, be it to produce sugar or ethanol. Combined these plants are capable of crushing about 550 million tons of sugarcane per year. All estimates predict that this market will continue growing rapidly over the next decade, since more investments are expected in the sector.

Historically this is a sector highly fragmented, dominated by family businesses. Over the past decade, however, the market has been the scene of a rapid and intense process of consolidation. Today it is increasingly common to find in that market some of largest multinational industrial groups, instead of the traditional family businesses from Brazil. The customer profile has changed dramatically and with it the kind of products and services demanded.