2010-2011 Nicaragua Sugar Production Will Reach 12 Million Quintals

2010-11-25

The National Committee for Sugar Producers (Comite Nacional de produccion de Azucar, CNPA) indicates, that due to the rain damage, 2010-2011 sugar production will be 12 million quintals, about the equivalent production of last year. However, benefiting from the rising international sugar prices, product output may yield 350 million U. S. dollars, of which 140 million U. S. dollars worth of this sugar is available for export. According to Nicaraguan sugar manufacturer, San Antonio, they are hiring 7,000 workers to harvest in mid-November, other sugar producers are starting their harvest operation in late November. However, because of the excess rainfall this year, there is the added workload of road repair and the extermination of pests and rodents, resulting in a production cost increase of 25 to 30%. And because of the rising international sugar prices, they will offer the entire production to meet domestic and international food market demands, and there will be no additional capacity for ethanol fuel production this year.