CTC predicts recovery in sugarcane productivity in 2022/23

The current harvest was marked by the dichotomy between good market conditions and remunerative prices and low productivity across the Center-South. Drought and frost had a negative impact on productivity.

From April to November, the TCH (ton of sugarcane per hectare) fell by 13% compared to the same period in 2020/21. The ATR (total recoverable sugar) remained at a slightly lower level (-2%) than that of the 20/21 harvest and should close at around 138 kg/t. The TAH (ton of sugar per hectare) reached 9,3 t/ha and is the lowest average value of the last 15 harvests.

This is what data from the “De Olho na Safra” bulletin, released today (17/12) by the Sugarcane Technology Center (CTC), based on data from the company’s agronomic benchmarking, shows.

For 2022/2023, the CTC's expectation is that the productivity of sugarcane fields in the Center-South region should recover at least 8,5%, since the sector has already experienced a similar situation in previous harvests.

According to Luiz Paes, Commercial Director of CTC, unlike conditions experienced in the past, there has been greater investment in sugarcane fields, as a result of better returns for sugar and ethanol, resulting in greater use of biological products, foliar fertilizers, in addition to management (nutrition and weed control) and increasing the proportion of modern varieties, which will reflect positively on the productivity of future harvests.

Furthermore, weather conditions should be more favorable for sugarcane cultivation in the first quarter of 2022, according to projections from the TempoCampo System.