Ingenio La Union
Ingenio La Unión is a privately held Guatemalan agribusiness that mills sugar cane into refined, white, brown, and raw sugars and molasses, and cogenerates renewable electricity from bagasse, supplying international sugar traders, distilleries, feed producers, and the national grid across 30 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersGuatemala City, Guatemala
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ingenio La Union does
Ingenio La Unión, S.A. is a privately held, family-owned Guatemalan agribusiness headquartered in Guatemala City with a primary processing plant at Finca Belén in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, Escuintla. The company mills sugar cane into a portfolio of refined, white, brown, and raw bulk sugars (347,919 tonnes per zafra) and produces molasses at 85° brix (144,871 tonnes per season), with a daily milling capacity of 19,250 tonnes and a mechanized-harvest rate of 79% over a 3,473,437-tonne seasonal throughput. A bagasse-fired cogeneration plant, interconnected to Guatemala's National Interconnected System in May 2018 via the 230kV La Unión Substation, sells approximately 221,537,000 KWh per season and accounts for roughly 10% of national cogeneration, ranking fifth in installed capacity among Guatemalan cogenerators.
The company operates a traditional sales-led B2B go-to-market, exporting sugar directly to international trading companies across 30 countries spanning North America (Canada, US, Mexico), LATAM (Chile, Caribbean), Europe (Belgium, Italy, Spain), Africa, and Asia Pacific (China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand). Domestic distribution is handled through local partner MAXXA; molasses is sold directly to distilleries and cattle-feed producers; and electricity is dispatched into the national grid. Revenue is generated through three commodity streams — sugar, molasses, and electricity — none of which carry publicly disclosed pricing. The layered certification stack (ISO 9001 since 2007, Kosher since 2012, FSSC 22000 since 2014, HALAL since 2015, Bonsucro since 2019) functions as a market-access enabler across religious-observant and ESG-screened buyer pools.
The enterprise employs 6,000 direct collaborators and is led by Marco Augusto García Noriega as president. It traces its origins to a family trapiche established by Similiano García Cottone and documented in the corporate biography 'De Trapiche a Ingenio'. Strategic and CSR infrastructure includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Centro Educativo Ingenio La Unión (CEDILU) and the 6-hectare José Santiago Molina Calderón Botanical Garden, plus a public-private IGSS health-clinic partnership inaugurated in October 2019. The company leads an industry-wide flood-control consortium that deployed US$2.8M of private investment into 18 km of river infrastructure along the Coyolate and Pantaleón rivers starting in 2006.
Ingenio La Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ingenio La Union
- Legal name
- Ingenio La Unión, S.A.
- Website
- https://launion.com.gt
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ingenio La Unión is a privately held Guatemalan agribusiness that mills sugar cane into refined, white, brown, and raw sugars and molasses, and cogenerates renewable electricity from bagasse, supplying international sugar traders, distilleries, feed producers, and the national grid across 30 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ingenio La Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sugar Production and Agribusiness
- NAICS
- Cane Sugar Manufacturing (311314), Sugar Manufacturing (31131), Sugarcane Farming (11193)
- SIC
- Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Food And Kindred Products (2000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cane Sugar (Raw & Refined) (AFAJAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sugar & Sweeteners Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAB), Sugarcane Farming (AFAGAEAA)
Keywords
Where Ingenio La Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guatemala City
- HQ country
- Guatemala
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Ingenio La Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Sugar Sales: Production and sale of various sugar types including refined, standard white, brown, and raw sugar to international clients and the largest sugar commercializing companies worldwide
- Molasses Sales: Sugar cane derivative sold to distilleries and cattle feed producers
- Electricity Cogeneration: Generates and sells electricity from sugar cane biomass to the national electrical market; represents 10% of total cogeneration in the Guatemalan market
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ingenio La Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ingenio La Unión is a vertically integrated sugar mill (ingenio) that cultivates sugar cane and produces refined, standard white, brown, and raw bulk sugar (347,919 tonnes per season), molasses at 85° brix (144,871 tonnes per season) for distilleries and animal feed producers, and renewable electricity cogenerated from sugar cane bagasse (221,537,000 KWh per season) sold to Guatemala's national grid. Output is sold B2B to international sugar traders, industrial buyers, and the National Interconnected System (SNI).
Product overview
Ingenio La Unión is a sugar mill (ingenio) based in Guatemala that operates three integrated production lines: sugar (in multiple refined, standard white, brown, and raw bulk varieties), molasses (85° brix), and electricity cogenerated from sugar cane biomass. Sugar products are produced to customer-specified requirements and distributed internationally to markets including Canada, the US, Mexico, Chile, Spain, Belgium, Italy, China, Japan, and Taiwan, among others. Electricity generation, operational since June 1998, is interconnected to Guatemala's National Interconnected System (SNI) and contributes approximately 10% of the country's total cogeneration capacity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Azúcar Refinada (Refined White Sugar) Refined white sugar with polarisation of 99.9°Z and colour of 45 ICUMSA, produced for international sugar traders and food-and-beverage manufacturers.
- Azúcar 150 ICUMSA (White Sugar) White sugar with 150 ICUMSA colour and polarisation of 99.60°Z, sold to international sugar commercializing companies.
- Azúcar Blanco Estándar / Plantation White Standard white sugar (Plantation White) with 200 ICUMSA colour and polarisation of 98.80°Z, supplied to international trading clients.
- Azúcar Morena (Brown Sugar) Brown sugar with maximum colour of 1100 ICUMSA and polarisation of 99.40°Z, sold to international and industrial buyers.
- Azúcar Crudo a Granel (Bulk Raw Sugar) Raw sugar in bulk with colour of 1200 ICUMSA and polarisation ranging from 99.30°Z to 99.80°Z, supplied to industrial and refining customers.
- Melaza (Molasses) Sugar cane derivative molasses at 85° brix, sold directly to domestic distilleries and cattle feed producers.
- Energía Eléctrica (Cogenerated Electricity) Renewable electricity generated from sugar cane bagasse biomass, sold to the Guatemalan national electricity market, representing approximately 10% of national cogeneration and ranking fifth in installed cogeneration capacity among Guatemalan mills.
Quantifiable outcome
- 347,919 tonnes of sugar produced per season
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Ingenio La Union
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ingenio La Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ingenio La Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS)corePublic-private alliance between IGSS and Ingenio La Unión to operate the first IGSS-Ingenio La Unión Health Clinic at Finca Belén, providing healthcare services including consultations, laboratory tests, and pharmacy to company employees registered with IGSS in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa. Inaugurated October 25. Benefits employees by eliminating long wait times and providing timely access to medications.
- CENTRARSE (Centro para la Acción de la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial)coreCSR association that coordinates corporate social responsibility initiatives. Supported the breast-feeding friendly company certification process and organizes national CSR forums like TransformaRSE. Ingenio La Unión participates in panel discussions on responsible business practices.
- Gobierno de Guatemala / MunicipalidadescoreCollaborative flood control initiative with central government, municipalities of Nueva Concepción and Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa, and private companies. Led by Ingenio La Unión from 2006, involving construction of 18km control curbs and river restoration works. Private investment of US$2.8 million mostly from La Unión, with US$5+ million from the State.
- CENGICAÑA (Centro de Investigación de la Caña de Azúcar)coreSugar cane research center that is part of the tour route for international visitors and diplomats organized through ASAZGUA. Represents the scientific and research foundation of the Guatemalan sugar industry.
- PROVIAL (Dirección General de Educación Vial)minorRoad safety education program launched in 2018 with PROVIAL, 3M, and sugar cane mills. Over 500 students from South Coast schools trained in road safety, signage, and regulations for drivers, pedestrians, and authorities.
- 3MminorCorporate partner in road safety education program alongside PROVIAL and sugar mills including Pantaleón, Madre Tierra, Magdalena, and La Unión.
- Grupo Santa Rosa, Grupo Tecojate, Tecnología AgrícolaminorCompanion companies in the Coyolate and Pantaleón river flood control project. Contributed US$150,000 combined to the US$2.8 million private investment in flood prevention works.
- Ingenio Pantaleón, Ingenio Madre TierraminorNeighboring sugar mills that collaborated on flood relief efforts and participated in the solidarity response to disasters, coordinating food provisions and machinery for river dredging.
- INTECAP (Instituto Técnico de Capacitación y Productividad)coreTechnical training and productivity institute. Conducted technical audit visit and recognized Ingenio La Unión's top productivity rankings in the sugar industry and innovation projects in agricultural and industrial processes combined with human talent management.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ingenio La Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pantaleón Group: Largest Guatemalan sugar producer with integrated milling, cogeneration, and ethanol operations across Central America. Directly comparable in geography, product mix (sugar/molasses/electricity), and BonSucro-certified export model.
- Raízen (Cosan): Brazilian joint venture between Cosan and Shell operating the world's largest sugarcane processor with sugar, ethanol, and biomass-to-power cogeneration. Closest international analog for the integrated sugar-energy business model.
Others
- Louis Dreyfus Company: Global commodity merchant with significant sugar origination, processing, and trading operations. Comparable as a counterparty in the international sugar supply chain that La Unión sells into.
- Cargill: Global agribusiness with sugar trading, refining, and origination activities. Comparable as a major buyer and competitor in international sugar flows, and a Bonsucro supporter alongside La Unión.
Broad incumbents
- Tereos: French-headquartered sugar and ethanol cooperative with operations in Europe, Brazil, and Africa. Comparable integrated sugarcane-to-sugar-and-energy model with global export footprint.
- ASR Group: World's largest cane sugar refiner (Domino, C&H, Florida Crystals) operating globally across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Comparable in refining scale, export reach, and food-safety certification stack.
- Südzucker AG: Europe's largest sugar producer with diversified sugar, ethanol, and bioenergy portfolio. Comparable in vertically integrated agribusiness model and renewable energy byproduct monetization.
Regional players
- Mitr Phol Group: Thailand's largest sugar and bioenergy producer with integrated cane milling, ethanol, and cogeneration. Comparable in integrated sugar-power model and Asian export markets, but operates in different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ingenio La Union social profiles
Digital presenceIngenio La Union compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Ingenio La Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ingenio La Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Ingenio La Union subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Ingenio La Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ingenio La Union M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ingenio La Union
What does Ingenio La Union do?
Ingenio La Unión is a vertically integrated sugar mill (ingenio) that cultivates sugar cane and produces refined, standard white, brown, and raw bulk sugar (347,919 tonnes per season), molasses at 85° brix (144,871 tonnes per season) for distilleries and animal feed producers, and renewable electricity cogenerated from sugar cane bagasse (221,537,000 KWh per season) sold to Guatemala's national grid. Output is sold B2B to international sugar traders, industrial buyers, and the National Interconnected System (SNI).
Is Ingenio La Union a public or private company?
Ingenio La Union is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ingenio La Union founded?
Ingenio La Union was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ingenio La Union based?
Ingenio La Union is headquartered in Guatemala City, Guatemala, in the Latin America region.
How does Ingenio La Union make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Sugar Sales are the primary driver. The others are molasses Sales and electricity Cogeneration.
Who are Ingenio La Union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pantaleón Group and Raízen (Cosan). Others are Louis Dreyfus Company and Cargill. Broad incumbents are Tereos, ASR Group and Südzucker AG. Mitr Phol Group is listed as a regional player.
Does Ingenio La Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ingenio La Union.
What industry is Ingenio La Union in?
Ingenio La Union's product category is Sugar Production and Agribusiness. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAJAAAA, Cane Sugar (Raw & Refined), with a secondary code of AFAIAKAB, Sugar & Sweeteners Trading/Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 311314 and its SIC code is 2060.