Copersucar

What Copersucar does

Copersucar is a Brazilian private cooperative-turned-multinational founded in 1959, operating the world's largest sugar trading franchise and a leading global ethanol marketing platform. It aggregates output from 38–42 partner mills in Brazil, which collectively represent roughly 107 million tonnes of crushing capacity, and connects U.S. ethanol supply from 22 partner distilleries to global demand through approximately 70 country markets. In Crop 24/25 the company traded 15.6–17 million tonnes of sugar and 19.1 billion liters of ethanol, with an explicitly guided ethanol volume target of approximately 21 billion liters for Crop 25/26.

The company runs a vertically integrated operating platform spanning logistics (multimodal transport with 107 million-tonne logistics capacity, a 5.5 million m³ port terminal with storage and blending, pipelines, waterways, and trucking), biotechnology (CTC synthetic seed production), biomethane distribution (BioRota, launched April 2024), renewable electricity trading (50% acquisition of NewCom Energia, 2024), and carbon credit monetization (CBios under Brazil's RenovaBio framework). It supplies international food manufacturers, Brazilian and U.S. fuel distributors, the transportation and energy sector, and emerging maritime biofuel buyers including Maersk trials.

Copersucar's business model is B2B commodity trading and transaction-fee revenue on sugar and ethanol volumes, augmented by logistics service fees, biomethane and renewable electricity commercialization, biotech (CTC seed) sales, and downstream ethanol retailing pending ANP authorization. Pricing is largely market-based against NY sugar and ethanol benchmarks, with a quality premium for Bonsucro- and RenovaBio-certified volumes. The cooperative structure means partner mills share in trading economics while Copersucar captures origination, blending, logistics, and downstream margin. Disclosed Crop 24/25 financials are R$62.3 billion in net revenue (+15.3% YoY) and R$402 million in net income (+43% YoY).

Name

Copersucar

Legal name

Copersucar S.A.

Website

https://copersucar.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Copersucar is a Brazilian multinational operating the world's largest sugar trading franchise and a leading global ethanol marketing platform, aggregating output from 38–42 partner mills and 22 U.S. distilleries to serve food manufacturers, fuel distributors, and energy buyers across 70+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sugar and Ethanol Commercialization

NAICS

Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing (325193), Cane Sugar Manufacturing (311314)

SIC

Sugar & Confectionery Products (2060), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production (EUAAAHAA)

Keywords

• Sugar trading
• Ethanol marketing
• Biofuel commercialization
• Multimodal logistics
• Renewable energy trading

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sugar Trading: Trading and marketing of raw and white sugar. Copersucar is the world's largest sugar marketer with 15.6-17 million tonnes sold annually. Serves customers in 70+ countries.
2. Ethanol Sales: Sales of anhydrous and hydrous ethanol in Brazil, USA, Europe, and Asia. Volume of 19.1 billion liters in Crop 24/25. Brazil market served via Evolua Etanol; North American market via Eco-Energy.
3. CBios (Decarbonization Certificates): Commercialization of CBios (RenovaBio decarbonization certificates) generated by partner mills. 6 million CBIOs generated in Crop 24/25.
4. Logistics Services: Multimodal logistics services including road freight, rail freight, pipeline transport, maritime shipping, and terminal operations in Brazil and USA.
5. Natural Gas Trading (USA): Eco-Energy trades and moves natural gas in the USA market.
6. Renewable Electricity: Commercialization of renewable electricity in Brazil's free market through NewCom. Partner mills generated 6,700 GWh of biomass electricity in Crop 24/25.
7. Biomethane Trading and Distribution: RNG marketing and distribution of biomethane produced from sugarcane residues. Strategic positioning to become major biomethane trader with 2-4 million m³/day target.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Copersucar is the world's largest sugar trader and a leading global ethanol marketer, operating an integrated ecosystem that connects 38-42 partner sugarcane mills in Brazil and 22 ethanol distilleries in the USA with global markets. It commercializes sugar, ethanol, CBios decarbonization certificates, biomethane, and renewable electricity, supported by its own multimodal logistics network.

Product overview

Copersucar operates as an integrated ecosystem of specialized businesses organized around renewable energy and natural food production. The core portfolio includes sugar trading (via Alvean, serving 70+ countries), ethanol trading (via Evolua Etanol for Brazil and Eco-Energy for USA, totaling over 21 billion liters), and multimodal logistics (road, rail, pipeline, maritime). Supporting business units include CBios (decarbonization certificates), biomass electricity (via NewCom), and biomethane/RNG. The ecosystem connects 42 partner mills in Brazil and 22 ethanol distilleries in the USA through an integrated logistics system with terminals in both countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alvean Global leader in sugar trading, specializing in origination, marketing and trading of raw and white sugar. Has commercial offices in ten countries and operations on all continents. Copersucar controls 100% of the company.
• Eco-Energy US-based company engaged in marketing and distribution of biofuels, among the industry leaders in North America. Also markets and moves natural gas in the US. Copersucar controls 100% of the company.
• Evolua Etanol Open and collaborative platform that unites producers and distributors to deliver clean and renewable energy at scale. Serves the Brazilian ethanol market.
• Sugarcane Trading (Brazil) Trading of White Sugar and Raw Sugar, marketed in Brazil and in more than 70 countries.
• Ethanol Trading Trading of Anhydrous Ethanol and Hydrous Ethanol, marketed in Brazil, USA, Europe and Asia. Volume exceeds 15 billion liters per year.
• CBios Commercialization of CBios (RenovaBio decarbonization certificates) in Brazil. 6 million CBIOs generated in Crop 24/25.
• Multimodal Logistics Integrated logistics system offering differentiated services with multimodal operation (road, rail, pipeline, and maritime modes) that reduces emissions and makes logistics more sustainable. Includes port terminal in Santos and transshipment terminals in São Paulo.
• NewCom Open platform for sale of electricity in Brazil's free market. Joint venture with Comerc Energia, enabling Copersucar's entry into the renewable electricity market.
• Biomethane/RNG Renewable natural gas (RNG) produced from sugarcane residues. Used for transportation, industry, energy generation and fertilizer. Reduces CO2 emissions by more than 90% compared to fossil fuels.
• Biomass Electricity Renewable electricity generated from biomass by partner mills. Generated 6,700 GWh of biomass-based electricity in Crop 24/25.
• BioRota Brazil's largest sustainable logistics operation powered by biomethane, replacing diesel with biomethane produced from sugarcane residues for transporting products. Features over 70 biomethane-powered trucks transporting sugar from mills to Port of Santos, reducing GHG emissions by up to 90% compared to diesel.
• CTC Seed Production Unit (UPS) New CTC facility in Piracicaba, SP that enables large-scale application of synthetic seed technology, replacing traditional planting with a lighter, standardized, high-precision system. Investment of over R$ 100 million was made in construction and applied technologies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sugar sales feed 630 million people in 70+ countries annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 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

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and supporting.

• ReitercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Partnership for BioRota - Brazil's largest biomethane logistics operation. Reiter is a pioneer in gas-powered truck fleets. The partnership enables transportation of sugar from mills to Port of Santos using biomethane-powered trucks, replacing diesel with 90% emission reduction.
• Partner Mills (38-42 sugarcane mills)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCopersucar connects with 38-42 partner mills in São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, and Goiás. These mills produce sugarcane, sugar, ethanol, and biomethane. Copersucar provides market access, logistics services, and commercialization of products. The partner mill platform represents the largest sugarcane crushing base in the world (107-120 million tonnes capacity).
• CocalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCocal is a Copersucar partner mill and pioneer in biomethane production in the sugar-energy sector. Operates two large-scale plants in western São Paulo (Narandiba: 25,000 m³/day; Paraguaçu Paulista: 60,000 m³/day) producing biomethane from sugarcane residues. Supplies biomethane for BioRota fleet.
• GeoflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop technology for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from biomethane. Plans to build a pilot demonstration plant expected to begin operations in 2025. This represents a strategic entry into the promising SAF market.
• Logum (34% ownership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated in partnership with Petrobras by sugar-energy sector groups. Logum operates Brazil's largest ethanol pipeline transportation system (~1,000 km of pipelines). Copersucar holds 34% stake and accesses ethanol pipeline infrastructure for distribution.
• CTC - Centro de Tecnologia Canavieira (16.93% ownership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest sugarcane biotechnology development center. Copersucar is the largest shareholder at 16.93%. CTC develops synthetic seed technology, improves crop genetics, and provides R&D for the entire ecosystem.
• Comerc Energia (NewCom joint venture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with Comerc Energia to acquire 50% of NewCom. This marks Copersucar's entry into the Brazilian free energy market through an open platform model for renewable electricity trading.
• Transport carriers (4 additional beyond Reiter)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFive transport companies total (including Reiter) participate in BioRota, refueling biomethane at Cocal's production units. These carriers enable the sustainable logistics operation.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Bunge: Global agribusiness major with sugar origination, ethanol production (BP Bunge JV), and extensive grain/oilseed trading. Overlaps with Copersucar in sugar/ethanol trading and global food commodity markets; a broader incumbent rather than pure-play competitor.
• Cargill: World's largest privately-held agricultural commodity trader with sugar, ethanol, and cocoa trading operations. Comparable in scale and global reach but operates a much broader portfolio that includes grains, oilseeds, animal nutrition, and food ingredients.

Direct peers

• Czarnikow: Specialist sugar trader managing the supply chains of major food and beverage multinationals. Direct comparable in global white and raw sugar trading, with similar client reach into 70+ countries.
• Südzucker: Europe's largest sugar producer and a significant ethanol/bioenergy player through its CropEnergies subsidiary. Comparable vertically-integrated sugar production model and exposure to EU biofuel policies analogous to RenovaBio.
• ED&F Man: Global sugar trading specialist with strong presence in Brazilian VHP sugar and ethanol trading. Directly comparable origination and merchandising model to Alvean (Copersucar's wholly-owned subsidiary).
• Adecoagro: NYSE-listed agribusiness with large-scale sugarcane operations in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, plus sugar, ethanol, and renewable electricity production. Highly comparable vertically-integrated sugar/ethanol model serving global markets.
• BP Bunge Bioenergia: Joint venture between BP and Bunge operating 11 sugarcane mills in Brazil producing sugar, ethanol, and bioelectricity. Direct Brazilian peer competing for ethanol supply, sugar market share, and CBios generation.
• Tereos: French sugar and ethanol cooperative, one of the largest sugar producers globally with operations across Europe, Brazil, and Africa. Direct comparable in cooperative-driven sugar/ethanol commercialization and ethanol marketing.
• Raízen: Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer and trader, joint venture between Cosan and Shell. Direct competitor with overlapping operations across Brazilian sugarcane mills, ethanol distribution, and sugar commercialization, including its own international trading joint venture (Radar).
• Louis Dreyfus Company: Privately-held global commodity merchandiser originating and trading sugar, ethanol, and other agricultural products. Direct competitor in international sugar and ethanol trading with comparable origination, logistics, and risk-management infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/copersucar

Compliance14 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Copersucar