SÃO PAULO (BDCi) – Sugarcane growers in São Paulo are experiencing some damaging blows to production and profit due to a drought and wildfires.
Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugar in the world and the century’s worst drought has led to a decline in the 2014-2015 season’s cane harvest.
Though some of the fires were accidental, others were started intentionally and illegally.
The fires are so severe that next season’s sugarcane crop will also be affected.
São Paulo state saw a decrease in rainfall by 80% in January, February, March and April of this year and received almost no rainfall in August.
The center-south region of Brazil, which includes São Paulo, grows roughly 90% of the country’s cane and will generate 545.9 million metric tons of the crop for the 2014-2015 season.
In the 2013-2014 season, the region produced 597.1 million tons.