With a yield of 12.2 tons per hectare, the industry produced 2.8 million metric tons in the 2013/2014 harvest, generating $1.13 billion for the production of sugar, alcohol and molasses.
During the 2013/2014 harvest a total of 1.9 million metric tons (MT) of sugar was exported, of which 162,000 were sent to Ghana and Tunisia and 45,000 to China. Guatemala currently ranks third in sugar yield, competing with Colombia and Swaziland, which are in first place with 14.6 and 13.9 tons per hectare, respectively.
Advisors of the U.S. Embassy and experts in renewable energy and gasoline additives advise legislation on mixing gasoline and ethanol and eliminating the additives MMT and MTB.
From a statement issued by the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala:
Energy Commission discusses feasibility of blending ethanol fuels
30/04/2014
The members of the Committee on Energy and Mines at the Congress of the Republic, coordinated by Congressman Gustavo Medrano, received representatives of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, accompanied by experts in renewable energy and gasoline additives, who raised the need to reform Decree 17-85 "Alcohol Fuel Act," which establishes the regulations for marketing fuels in the country.
A new commission set up by the Ministry of Health will regulate advertising of tobacco and alcohol and will look at increasing taxes.
The National Commission for the Prevention of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases and Cancer, established by the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be responsible for the regulation of advertising of snuff and alcohol and also promote the consumption of healthy foods.
Costa Rica will import raw alcohol from Brazil to dehydrate it and re-export it to the US with zero-tariff, in accordance with DR-CAFTA rules.
The Brazilian president's visit to Costa Rica formalized at the government level what was already in the works between businesses in both countries.
In his article in Nacion.com, Juan Fernando Lara S. stated: "Recently, the Agro-Industrial Sugar Cane League (LAICA) obtained a contract from a Brazilian firm that will bring raw alcohol to the country. It will be dehydrated in Punta Morales and then it will be placed as ethanol in the United States."
The Alcohol and Rum Distillery (DARSA) increased its production capacity with the purchase and acquisition of the Tulula Factory, in Retalhuleu.
Erick Aragon, general manager of the company, commented during the inauguration that the investment will allow the plant to increase its production from 40 to 90 million liters per year, for the various types of alcohol.
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