Brazilian farmers are opposed to growing soyabeans rather than sugar , as they face a global sugar glut , and as demand grows from China following the tightening of tariffs on US soyabeans . Exports to China rose to almost 36 million metric tonnes ( mt ) in H1 2018 , rising to nearly 54 million mt in the whole of 2017 . In July , exports surged by 46 % YoY to 10.2 metric tonnes . According to agricultural America , farmers are suffering from sugarcane in virtually every sector where possible , while 60 cane mills have closed in the last five years .
Brazilian farmers are switching to growing soyabeans rather than sugar, as they face a global sugar glut, and as demand grows from China following the imposition of tariffs on US soyabeans. Exports to China rose to almost 36 million metric tonnes (mt) in H1 2018, compared to nearly 54 million mt in the whole of 2017. In July, exports surged by 46% YoY to 10.2 million mt. According to Nova America, farmers are migrating from sugarcane in virtually every state where possible, while 60 cane mills have closed in the last five years.