Brazilian fuel policy seen responsible for country losing top sugar producer status

In Brazil, Mercopress reports that analysts JOB Economia e Planejamento finger the country’s fuels policy that drives demand for ethanol due to higher fossil fuel prices as the reason why Brazil will likely lose its top spot as the largest sugar producer in the world, ceding the role to India. With the policy driving the premium for ethanol to between 4% and 40% since October last year, mills have put a heavy focus on ethanol production while forsaking sugar production.