Geovana Pagel*
São Paulo – The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco are among the markets that are destinations for the sugar produced by mill Jalles Machado S/A., based in the city of Goianésia, in the midwestern Brazilian state of Goiás. Shipments are through Arab trading companies that sell Brazilian sugar to refineries in the region.
"Arab importers came to us showing interest in buying sugar in bulk. Sales to the Middle East and North Africa began between 7 and 8 years ago," explained the company export coordinator, Elton Vieira.
Apart from around 38,000 tonnes of raw sugar produced per year, of which between 20% and 30% is exported, the industry produces crystal sugar, organic sugar, 7personal hygiene and cleaning products based on alcohol and fuel alcohol.
Raw and organic sugar are the main products exported by Jalles, which also plans to start selling fuel alcohol on the foreign market in 2006. "Everything indicates that the price will be favourable to export of fuel alcohol," stated Vieira. However, according to him, the great bet of the company to win more and more clients abroad is organic sugar.
"We started producing organic sugar, which has a greater added value, just three years ago and export 99% of production," he said. In the 2006-2007 crop, Jalles Machado is going to produce 13,000 tonnes of organic sugar, which will be exported mainly to the North Americans.
The company
In 1970 Goianésia Álcool S/A., a small fuel alcohol production mill was established. In 1993 the company also started producing sugar, beginning a new cycle, and its name was changed to Jalles Machado S/A Sugar and Alcohol.
Nowadays, 31,000 hectares of sugarcane supply the industry, which generates around 2,600 direct jobs. The company is also expanding and diversifying markets, and has started growing soy. The area turned to organic production, of sugarcane and soy, is approximately 4,000 hectares. Fertilization is organic and pest control is biological or natural.
"All productive processes take into consideration the aspects and environmental impacts of activities, aimed at reducing the negative effects on the environment," pointed out Vieira.
Contact
Telephone: (+55 62) 3389-9000
Site: www.jallesmachadosa.com.br
*Translated by Mark Ament
