Sugarcane is one of Brazil’s top agricultural crops with the current cultivated areas of over 1.76 million hectares and 130 million tons of cane crushed, producing over 14 million tons of sugar. Brazil is the world largest sugar exporting country. Cane and sugar industry generates approximately $20 billion to the country economy each year.
As an important Brazil’s Agri-industrial crop, sugarcane was traditionally used to produce only sugar. Presently, cane plays bigger role as an energy crop as raw material for ethanol and electricity production. Besides, byproducts from sugar production are also used to produce fertilizer, bio-degradable packaging and other bio-products.
Raw sugar is made directly from sugar cane and the initial production process. The sugar has a color value higher than 1,500 ICUMSA. It is dark brown, and has a dirt index and a low purity index. This type of sugar cannot be consumed until it is reprocessed or purified, turning into white sugar or refined sugar. Transfer is done in bulk to export.
White sugar is purified sugar through processing its color value with less than 100 ICUMSA. The sugar is consumed among household and used in industries in order to sell to distributors in Brazil and food service channel as well. It is packed by dividing into 1 kilogram, 25 kilograms, and 50 kilograms.
Very High Polarization Sugar (VHP) is partly purified therefore its color is yellow-tinted brown with ICUMSA 1,000 - 1,500. The sugar can be consumed without any further process needed in order to export overseas. It is packed by dividing into 15 kilograms and 50 kilograms.
Refined sugar is high in purity with less than 45 ICUMSA. The sugar is consumed among household and used in industries in order to sell to distributors and different regions including modern trade and food service channel as well. It is packed by dividing into 250 grams, 1 kilogram, 25 kilograms, and 50 kilograms.
Icumsa 45 sugar, known today as white sugar, is one of the most sought after by sugar importers worldwide, due to its purity and brightness. As the highest quality sugar available on the market today, ICUMSA 45 sugar has a sparkling white color and is highly refined, suitable for human consumption and use in a wide range of food products. In addition, it has a high demand due to the fact that it is safer, since its refining process removes bacteria and contaminants present in raw sugars
Known today as crystal sugar, it is widely used in large-scale baking and in the production of drinks and food. Formed by the crystallization process, without chemical refining, crystal sugar serves as a lower cost substitute in relation to Icumsa 45 sugar, known as traditional white sugar, even more because it contains less chemicals in its composition.
Usina São Francisco S/A, Brazil
