SAO PAULO, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Sugarcane crushing in

Brazil's center-south is expected to reach 593.2 million metric

tons in 2025/26, a 3.2% drop from the previous season as adverse

weather and fires affect the key producing region, consultancy

StoneX ( SNEX ) said on Friday.

That would represent the second straight season of cane

crushing decline in Brazil's main sugar belt, according to

StoneX ( SNEX ), which estimated a 6.3% fall in 2024/25 after the record

reached in the previous cycle.

"Initial prospects for 2025/26 are still in an uncertain

territory," StoneX ( SNEX ) said in a report, adding that rains would be

"extremely needed" from October as the region has been in a

"severe water deficit" since November 2023.

Brazil, the world's largest sugar supplier by far with 70%

of the export trade, has been facing a historic drought in many

regions, affecting crops like sugarcane. In recent months, fires

raging across the country have further worried producers.