Geovana Pagel
São Paulo – The signing of an accord for the construction of a sugar mill in Syria is one of the first commercial results of the visit president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva made to the Arab countries, in December 2003. The enterprise brings together Brazilian Crystalsev, which will supply the technology and equipment, three Syrian companies (Assaf Invest, Shugar Invest, and Shugar Mezzanine) and Cargill Africa. The investment is over US$ 150 million, in one year.
According to the president of Crystalsev, João Carlos Figueiredo Ferraz, land levelling ha already begun. "This will be the first time Crystalsev invests abroad," he stated.
The refinery to be built in Homs, the industrial centre in Syria, and to begin operation in August 2005, should supply to the markets in Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. Expectations are that the company should generate 1,500 direct and indirect jobs. "Company industrialization capacity will be between 400,000 and 500,000 tonnes per year," estimated Ferraz.
Brazil is the largest world producer and exporter of Sugar, with estimated annual production of almost 22 million tonnes. Traditionally, Brazilian sugar mills are suppliers of raw material and do not operate in product industrialization in other countries. Crystalsev will be the first Brazilian company to invest in a refinery abroad.
To Ferraz, the mill in Syria will guarantee Crystalsev a good percentage of the supply of raw material to that country. The Brazilian company exports between 1 million and 1.2 million tonnes of VHP (Very High Polarization) sugar per year, apart from 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes of refined sugar. The Middle East is one of the main destinations of Brazilian VHP sugar, only losing to Russia, the main buyer.
Modern technology
Brazilian technology in the sugar and alcohol sector is among the most modern in the world.
Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade minister Luiz Fernando Furlan stated, at the signing of the contract in Syria, that Crystalsev should also join other Brazilian companies to export 1 million tonnes of raw sugar to that country, to generate an estimated US$ 200 million.
Located in Ribeirão Preto, 314 kilometers away from the capital of the state of São Paulo, Crystalsev trades domestically and internationally in markets that include sugar, alcohol, and the other products produced in the seven mills that are part of the group.
Group companies are Cia. Energética Santa Elisa, Cia. Açucareira Vale do Rosário, Usina de açúcar e álcool MB Ltda., Usina Moema açúcar e álcool Ltda., Usina Mandu S.A., Jardest S.A. açúcar e álcool, and Destilaria Pioneiros S.A.
Among the company domestic clients are the largest Brazilian food industry companies in the soft drink, chocolate, ice-cream, sweet and coated sweet, powdered drink, pickle, juice, candy, the entire dairy line, jelly, and jam sectors. Apart from these companies, other clients are large fuel distributors.
This year, Crystalsev has plans for production of around 2 million tonnes of sugar, a volume 25% greater than that traded last year, 1.6 million tonnes.
Group sugar export is estimated at around 1.3 million tonnes.
Company alcohol production should total around 850 million litres this year, the same as last year. Export should total around 200 million litres.
Contact
www.crystalsev.com.br
