Pucté, Quintana Roo — The 2025-2026 sugarcane harvest in southern Quintana Roo has ended with some of the lowest productivity figures in the region’s history, raising concerns among nearly 2,800 growers along the Ribera del Río Hondo who depend on the crop.
The Ingenio San Rafael de Pucté mill completed 162 days of grinding, processing about 1.088 million tons of cane from more than 31,000 hectares to produce just over 100,000 tons of sugar. However, agricultural yield reached only 34.73 tons of cane per hectare — roughly half the national average of 67.71 tons, according to data from the National Committee for the Sustainable Development of Sugarcane (Conadesuca).
Industrial output also suffered. The mill recorded just 3.20 tons of sugar per hectare, compared to the national average of 7.29 tons. The KARBE indicator, which measures recoverable sugar per ton of cane, closed at 105.121 kilograms.
Specialists and growers attribute the poor performance to a prolonged drought, aging plantations, the spread of Fusarium fungus, rising production costs, and lagging farm mechanization.
Sergio Crisanto Morteo, secretary general of the Local Union of Sugarcane Producers (ULPCA), acknowledged the efforts of cutters, transporters, industrial staff, and grower representatives in completing the season.
Although the estimated sugar price would allow a payment of about 862 pesos per ton of cane delivered, final income will depend on the volume harvested per hectare — one of the hardest-hit indicators this cycle.
The sector now awaits the official close of the sugar cycle on September 30, when final marketing adjustments and the possibility of economic surpluses for Ribera del Río Hondo producers will be determined. Sugarcane remains a key economic driver in the region.
