Comparative Analysis of Costs of Sugar Cane: Independent Producers x Large Producers of Sugar and Alcohol

The article presents a comparative analysis of production costs of sugar cane, among independent producers and large producers (sugar and alcohol), given the relevance of the sector in the region of Ribeirao Preto. We conducted a survey exploratory well with a producer of sugar cane, in Ribeirao Preto, mapping the main costs of production of sugar cane, from planting to harvest. The cost was divided by activity, such as preparation and soil treatment; plantation of sugar cane; chemical treatment of soil; fertilization (ratoon cane), chemical treatment of soil (ratoon cane). After, some indicators were calculated, such as COE (Operating Cost Efficient), TOC (Total Operating Cost), TC (Total Cost), productivity and the amount of ATR per ton produced. These indicators aim at a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the production of small and large producers, by comparison of production costs per hectare of cane produced, and also to compare the quality of sugarcane. The indicators were extracted from the large producers of research and studies conducted by institutions and researchers. As a result, can be verified a lower cost production of lager producers, which had a gain scale against small producers, because of the large scale of production. Referring to the productivity and quality of sugar cane produced, the independent producer was better than the large producers.