Guatemala: Sugar Annual
Guatemalan sugar production for Marketing Year (MY) 2016-2017 (October 2016 to September 2017) is forecast at 3.05 million metric tons (MMT). Production for MY 2015-2016 has been revised slightly up to 2.98 MMT from the previous estimate, and is a record high for the fourth consecutive year. Production for MY 2014-2015 was revised slightly up at 2.98 MMT. Total exports for MY 2016-2017 are forecast at 2.31 MMT, with raw sugar making up 54 percent and refined sugar 46 percent of Guatemalan exports. Guatemala, during MY 2014-2015, positioned itself as the third major producer and second largest exporter in Latin American and the Caribbean, fourth major exporter worldwide and first most efficient at port loading in the global sugar industry. Main technological innovations involve dry sugar cane cleaning systems and increased efficiency in water management, both for irrigation and industrial use.
