La rentabilidad del negocio azucarero en Venezuela. El caso de los precios y los productores del río Turbio

Abstract

The profitability of the sugar business, cane supply and the productivity of the sector have suffered reductions in Rio Turbio, Venezuela, during the last years. This is partly due to uncertainties on the future of the sector and to its decapitalization. Taking into account the country’s hard economic situation and inflation high rates, this article studies the performance of sugar prices as a factor affecting profitability. The analysis is focused on the adjusting -constant or actual- prices paid to the producers, with the aim of comparing the different «zafras» along the 1988-2001 period .