Venezuelan sugar cane sector reported sustained growth between 15 and 20%

Published at: 21/12/2025 11:06 PM

The president of the Venezuelan Sugarcane Farmers Association (FESOCA), José Álvarez, stressed that since 2020, the sugarcane sector has experienced sustained growth of between 15% and 20%, with the exception of last year, which was 10%, but already for this harvest, which is beginning, the 2025-2026 harvest, it is estimated that it will grow between 17% and 18%.

This was stated at a recent press conference, in which he pointed out that “despite all the problems and all the difficulties it has had, producers have achieved growth at a very considerable rate and we are pleased to have achieved it”.

National and local media indicate that Álvarez explained that last year they ended up with 4 million 500 thousand tons of cane in milling and for this 2026 harvest, they are aspiring to grind one million more. That would mean reaching approximately 5 million 800 thousand tons of cane.

In his opinion, the producers have turned to planting this year, since last year there was a problem due to the rains that occurred in Portuguesa ahead of time, “we couldn't grind all the cane we wanted, but this year we started in early November with the hope of being able to grind all the cane and grind the cane that was deferred from the previous year,” he said.

“Despite so many difficulties in sugar mills, especially the private ones that stopped milling, three years ago the governor of the entity, Primitivo Cedeño, made every effort to start the Portuguesa Sugar Plant and also the Araure Battle Plant , also located in Guanare, Portuguese state, which is the largest producer of sugar cane,” he said.

He also stated that “fortunately private power plants are already grinding to a capacity that almost covers their entire capacity, there are two power plants that can still grow more, which are El Palmar in Aragua and La Pastora between Trujillo and Lara”.

“We are meeting market demand by approximately 60%, other power plants would have to be purchased to be able to achieve self-sufficiency itself, which must be around 650,000 tons of cane sugar, a milling of about 8 million tons of cane, would have to be activated in other plants,” he said.

The Ministry of Popular Power, Agriculture and Lands has reported that other sugar mills are about to be activated, such as Central Venezuela in the state of Zulia and Central Ezequiel Zamora in Barinas, if that is done, we could be becoming self-sufficient in about three or four years.

Mazo News Team