What Nardini Agroindustrial does

Nardini Agroindustrial Ltda is a privately-held Brazilian sugarcane biorefinery founded in 1973 and headquartered in Vista Alegre do Alto, São Paulo. It operates two fully integrated industrial units — the original matriz in Vista Alegre do Alto (SP) and a second unit in Aporé (Goiás), inaugurated in 2025 — and processes approximately 7.2 million tons of sugarcane per harvest into a diversified product mix: crystal sugar (Açúcar Cristal), VHP raw sugar (Açúcar VHP), anhydrous and hydrated ethanol, bagasse-derived bioelectricity supplied to the national grid, and yeast extracted from fermentation byproducts. The company employs roughly 3,000 collaborators across both units and holds a layered certification stack including ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, Etanol Mais Verde, RenovaBio, and — as of March 2026 — ISO 55001, making it the first sugar-energy company in the Americas to achieve asset management certification.

The underlying operation is a classic integrated biorefinery: sugar and ethanol share a feedstock, bagasse combustion generates renewable electricity, and additional fermentation yields a yeast co-product, producing multiple revenue streams from one agricultural input. Nardini runs an in-house IAC-certified soil analysis laboratory that ranked 7th among 161 Latin American soil fertility laboratories in the 2025 proficiency cycle, and it operates the RPPN Nardini Sempre Verde, an officially recognized Private Natural Heritage Reserve of Atlantic Forest vegetation on its property. Governance sits with Director-President Vanderlei Adauto Caetano and Chairman of the Board Ericson Marino; the company is structured as a Brazilian limitada with no public listing, no disclosed private equity or venture capital investors, and no parent company.

Nardini's business model is sales-led B2B commodity distribution. Sugar (crystal and VHP) is sold in bulk to food and beverage manufacturers (with Coca-Cola Brasil named as a flagship customer) and through commodity trading channels; ethanol is sold via biofuel distributors and direct industrial offtake for fuel blending and flex-fuel applications; bioelectricity is sold into the national grid; and yeast is sold as a value-added co-product. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated bilaterally with industrial buyers under commodity-market dynamics. Recent strategic emphasis has been on the "Inova Nardini" innovation program (with partners including Treesales and WEG), the geographic expansion into Goiás, and the deepening of sustainability certifications to access RenovaBio and ESG-screened offtake.

Name

Nardini Agroindustrial

Legal name

Nardini Agroindustrial Ltda

Website

https://nardini.ind.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Nardini Agroindustrial is a privately-held Brazilian sugarcane biorefinery processing 7.2 million tons of sugarcane annually across two production units in São Paulo and Goiás, producing crystal and VHP sugar, anhydrous and hydrated ethanol, bioelectricity, and yeast for B2B industrial buyers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sugarcane Biorefinery / Sugar-Ethanol Production

NAICS

Cane Sugar Manufacturing (311314), Sugarcane Farming (11193)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Cane Sugar (Raw & Refined) (AFAJAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production (EUAAAHAA), Sugarcane Farming (AFAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Sugarcane processing
• Sugar production
• Ethanol manufacturing
• Renewable bioelectricity
• Biorefinery operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Vista Alegre Do Alto

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sugar Sales (Crystal and VHP): Production and sale of crystal sugar and VHP (Very High Polarity) sugar. Total installed capacity of 600,000 tons per harvest across both units. Sold to food and beverage manufacturers and commodity traders.
2. Ethanol Sales (Anhydrous and Hydrated): Production and sale of anhydrous ethanol (used in fuel blending) and hydrated ethanol (for direct fuel use). Total installed capacity of 400,000 m³ per harvest. Distributed through biofuel supply chains and direct industrial sales.
3. Bioelectricity Sales: Renewable bioelectricity generated from sugarcane bagasse combustion. Installed capacity of 240,000 MW. Energy is supplied to the national grid or direct industrial consumers.
4. Yeast/Leaven Sales: Yeast extracted from the additional ferment generated during ethanol production. Sold as a value-added byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nardini Agroindustrial is a Brazilian sugarcane biorefinery that processes 7.2 million tons of sugarcane per harvest to produce crystal sugar, VHP sugar, anhydrous ethanol, hydrated ethanol, renewable bioelectricity from sugarcane bagasse, and yeast as a co-product. Production is conducted across two fully operational units in Vista Alegre do Alto (São Paulo) and Aporé (Goiás), with products sold in bulk to industrial buyers in the food and beverage, biofuel, and energy sectors.

Product overview

Nardini Agroindustrial operates a diversified sugarcane biorefinery producing six main product lines: crystal sugar, VHP sugar, bioelectricity from bagasse, anhydrous ethanol, hydrated ethanol, and yeast. The company processes 7.2 million tons of sugarcane per harvest across its two units (Vista Alegre do Alto in São Paulo and Aporé in Goiás), with installed capacity for 600,000 tons of crystal and VHP sugar, 400,000 cubic meters of ethanol, and 240,000 MW of renewable bioelectricity. The product portfolio follows an integrated biorefinery model where sugarcane is fully utilized—sugars are extracted for crystal and VHP production, bagasse generates bioelectricity, and the fermentation process produces both ethanol (anhydrous and hydrated) and yeast as a co-product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Inova Nardini: Strategic innovation program to consolidate projects for the next 50 years

Products and services

• Açúcar Cristal (Crystal Sugar) Refined crystal sugar produced from sugarcane processing at Nardini's industrial units, sold in bulk to industrial food and beverage manufacturers as a commodity input.
• Açúcar VHP (Very High Polarization Sugar) High-polarization raw sugar intended for further refining, produced from sugarcane alongside crystal sugar as part of Nardini's diversified sugar portfolio.
• Bioeletricidade (Bioelectricity) Renewable electricity generated from combustion of sugarcane bagasse (a byproduct of industrial sugarcane processing), supplied to the national energy grid or to direct industrial energy consumers.
• Etanol Anidro (Anhydrous Ethanol) Anhydrous ethanol produced from sugarcane fermentation and distillation, used primarily as a biofuel additive blended with gasoline and sold to fuel distributors and blenders.
• Etanol Hidratado (Hydrated Ethanol) Hydrated ethanol produced directly from sugarcane, used as a standalone biofuel for flex-fuel vehicles and sold into Brazilian biofuel supply chains.
• Levedura (Yeast) Yeast extract produced from the additional fermentation generated during Nardini's ethanol production process, sold as a value-added co-product to food and feed industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8th best agribusiness company in Brazil — Exame Melhores e Maiores 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026SGS conducted an audit at the Aporé unit as part of the RenovaBio certification process. SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, and testing company, assessing compliance with Brazil's national biofuel sustainability policy.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Cândido Rodrigues (SP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Partnership with the municipal government of Cândido Rodrigues for environmental education and community engagement. Conducted fish restocking action with release of 4,000 fingerlings, involving ~191 municipal school students, in commemoration of World Water Day.
• WEGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2025WEG representatives visited Nardini's Centro de Inovação, exploring technology and innovation collaboration opportunities in the energy and industrial automation space.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Aporé (GO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership with Aporé municipal government for environmental actions including tree planting with seedlings from Nardini's nursery, involving municipal school students, for World Environment Day. Mayor Leonardo Carvalho participated in the initiative.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Pirangi (SP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Environmental education partnership with Pirangi municipality. Nardini's Environmental Analyst conducted an educational lecture for students, followed by tree planting in the city square, with participation of the Municipal Environment Director and Mayor.
• Escola Evangélica de Cassilândia (MS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Supported the 'D' Day of Ecology event organized by the evangelical school, taking students to Fazenda Água Boa (Project Asas) to learn about wildlife rehabilitation and release of native animals including macaws, strengthening environmental education in the community.
• Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Nardini participates in the IAC's Soil Quality Analysis Program, submitting its laboratory to annual proficiency testing. In the 2025 cycle, Nardini's laboratory ranked 7th among 161 Latin American soil fertility laboratories and obtained certification with seals for Basic Analyses and Granulometry. Recognition was formalized in February 2026 in Campinas (SP).
• TreesalescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2024Treesales is a consulting firm specializing in digital transformation, serving as a partner of Nardini in the Inova Nardini innovation program. Treesales works to encourage collaborators to participate in Nardini's evolution, focusing on developing an 'ambidextrous company' concept — maintaining daily goals while fostering innovation.
• Governo do Estado de São Paulo / Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e LogísticacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Nardini maintains the Etanol Mais Verde seal, issued by the São Paulo state government. This sustainability program (continuation of the 2007 pioneering agreement) consolidates sustainable development in the sugarcane-energy sector and directs actions to address challenges from sugarcane harvest mechanization.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Monte Alto (SP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for RPPN Nardini Sempre Verde official recognition ceremony held at the Monte Alto City Council, involving municipal authorities in environmental preservation and community sharing of the reserve.
• Escola Municipal de Aporé (GO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2023School students participated in World Water Day environmental action under municipal school supervision, planting tree seedlings from Nardini's nursery in a green area of the municipality.
• Prefeitura Municipal de Aporé (GO)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Donated 6 air conditioning units to the Escola Municipal Iraí Ferreira de Souza in Aporé, inaugurated in November 2022, to provide climate comfort for students and staff. Delivery attended by the Secretary of Administration and Planning and education collaborators.
• Prefeitura de Monte Alto / Subprefeitura / Associação de Moradores / SabespminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022Multi-stakeholder partnership for the renovation of the Children's Recreation Space 'Dr. Aurélio Nardini' in Aparecida do Monte Alto district. Nardini provided painting, toys, bathroom renovation, and new water fountain. Sabesp handled plumbing; the city hall maintained ongoing cleaning and conservation.
• Dabi Business Park / Centro de Inovação Dabi Business ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022Dabi Business Park, located in Ribeirão Preto (SP), is the innovation hub where Nardini held the 'Inova>Agro' event under its Inova Nardini innovation program. The center hosts innovation activities and Area 51 startup/tech acceleration space. The venue supports Nardini's strategic goal of preparing for the next 50 years through innovation.
• GTAgro (Grupo de Gestores de TI do Agronegócio)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2022GTAgro is a group of IT managers from sugarcane mills and agribusiness companies. Nardini participated in the 'Inova>Agro' event alongside 14 other member mills, sharing innovation experiences and digital transformation strategies within the sugarcane-energy sector.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Biosev (Louis Dreyfus Company): Brazilian sugarcane processor producing sugar, ethanol, and bioelectricity across multiple mills; acquired by Louis Dreyfus Company. Operates at larger scale than Nardini but with highly comparable product portfolio, end markets, and operating model.
• Usina Coruripe: Brazilian sugar-ethanol producer with units in Minas Gerais, Alagoas, and Goiás, producing crystal and VHP sugar, anhydrous and hydrated ethanol, and bioelectricity. Closely comparable to Nardini across the full integrated product suite.
• Jalles Machado S.A. Brazilian sugar-ethanol producer with operations in Goiás, producing crystal and VHP sugar, ethanol, and bioelectricity. Closely comparable to Nardini in scale (multiple-million-ton cane processing), integrated biorefinery model, and B2B commodity sales motion.
• Atvos (formerly Odebrecht Agroindustrial): Brazilian sugar-ethanol producer operating multiple mills in the Center-South region, producing sugar, ethanol, and bioelectricity. Direct competitor with comparable integrated model and product portfolio, though currently restructuring post-judicial recovery.
• Cocal (formerly Usina Cocal): Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer operating in São Paulo state with multiple industrial units. Comparable to Nardini in scale, geographic focus (São Paulo sugarcane belt), and integrated sugar/ethanol/bioelectricity model.
• São Martinho S.A. One of Brazil's largest sugar-ethanol producers, processing ~23M tons of sugarcane per harvest across multiple mills in São Paulo and Goiás. Highly comparable to Nardini in product mix (sugar, ethanol, bioelectricity), customer segments, and regulatory environment; operates at a meaningfully larger scale.

Regional players

• Adecoagro S.A. Latin American agribusiness with sugar-ethanol operations in Argentina and Brazil, producing sugar, ethanol, and bioelectricity. Compares to Nardini on product mix and integrated model but operates primarily in Argentina and Uruguay, providing a regional benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• Tereos Internacional: French-headquartered cooperative with major Brazilian sugar-ethanol operations, producing sugar, ethanol, and bioelectricity. Operates at materially larger scale than Nardini across multiple geographies, but highly comparable product mix and customer base.
• Cosan S.A. Brazilian agribusiness conglomerate controlling Raízen and other downstream fuel/logistics businesses. Indirectly comparable as Nardini's largest domestic competitor's parent; relevant as a benchmark for how scale, vertical integration, and downstream capture reshape industry economics.
• Raízen S.A. Joint venture between Cosan and Shell, the largest sugarcane processor in Brazil (~70M tons/year), with extensive sugar, ethanol, and fuel distribution businesses (Shell V-Power network). Not a direct scale peer but a critical competitive reference for Nardini's market and pricing dynamics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nardiniagroindustrial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@nardinigrupo
• Instagraminstagram.com/nardinioficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grupo-aurelio-nardini

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nardini Agroindustrial