Sugar and ethanol production - where Brazil stands in 2020?

Brazil has a long history of cane production, commencing in 1526 or 1532 depending on which records you believe. Serious expansion in cane production began in 1975 on the back of high crude oil prices when government supported the production of fuel ethanol. Over the 35 years from 1975, annual cane production has increased from 68 million to 620 million tonnes. As the world's largest producer of sugar and having the potential to expand, Brazil has taken on the challenge. Recently, combination of lack of access to capital on favourable terms along with abnormal weather has placed momentary brake on continuous expansion. There is currently a feedstock gap of 134 million tonnes of cane. This paper highlights the production challenges over the next nine years as the demand for both sugar and ethanol grow.