date:May 29, 2014
t 38.8m tonnes, down 4.0% year on year, a reflection of the financial difficulties among Centre South mills caused by low sugar prices for much of the last year.
Some mills consulted are in delicate financial situation, said Antonio de Padua Rodriguez, the Unica technical director, noting that 249 plants were open as of mid-May, down 19 on the same period last year.
However, mills also turned more cane into ethanol rather than sugar, with the proportion processed into the sweetener falling to