The geography of sugar and ethanol exports in the state of Minas Gerais

Abstract

In commodities markets, the development of the sugarcane industry is related to the production of three widely accepted products: sugar, ethanol, and bioelectricity. Regarding the exports politics of sugar and ethanol, the corporations have adopted strategies connecting food and energy sectors to insert their products on global markets. This paper aims to analyze the spatial dynamics of sugar and ethanol exports in the state of Minas Gerais, considering its productive structures, distribution networks, and international buyer’s market in the period between 1997 and 2017. The methodology used consists of a literature review, collection and data analysis related to the sugarcane industry. In the Minas Gerais state, the socioeconomic dynamic of production and exploitation of sugar and ethanol is concentrated in companies located in the Triângulo Mineiro/Alto Paranaíba regions, which have mostly used national road haulage, port’s structure and international maritime transport to connect production units and global markets.