Guatemala - Sugar industry

Sugar is the second most important export commodity after coffee in Guatema la. Sugarcane is grown over 180,000 hectares and is processed in 17 mills. For 2000/2001, cane sugar production was 1.7 million metric tons. Of this, approximately 70% is exported. Guatemala is the third largest exporter of s ugar in Latin America. The sugar industry is claimed to be highly progressi ve and employs around 250,000 people who enjoy salaries twice the norm for the agricultural sector. This paper briefly describes the structure of Guat emalan's sugar industry.