COFCO International is expanding its sugar manufacturing footprint in Brazil with an agreement to acquire the Rio Vermelho and Nova Unialco sugar mills from Bunge, adding two assets in one of the country’s key agricultural regions.
The two mills, located in the Araçatuba region of São Paulo state, will strengthen COFCO International’s presence across Brazil’s sugar-producing belt and give the global agricultural trader greater industrial capacity alongside its existing operations in the country.
The transaction reflects COFCO International’s strategy of building a more integrated sugar business in Brazil, where its operations connect agricultural production with processing and global markets.
“This acquisition aligns with our long-term strategy to grow and strengthen our sugar business. It strengthens our industrial presence in Brazil and expands our capacity to operate in an integrated manner across key agricultural regions,” said Daniel Pagnani, Managing Director, Sugar Mills at COFCO International.
“Combined with COFCO International’s existing platform, these assets create opportunities for greater operational efficiency, diversification and business resilience,” Pagnani added.
COFCO International has operated in Brazil for more than a decade and has continued to invest in the country as it expands its role in moving agricultural commodities from production regions to international markets. The addition of the two sugar mills is expected to deepen that position while supporting the broader sugar economy in the region.
For COFCO, the deal also adds scale to an operating model increasingly focused on integrating agricultural sourcing, processing and global trade. Greater control over processing assets can give commodity companies more flexibility in managing supply, production and market exposure, particularly in a major sugar-producing market such as Brazil.
The Rio Vermelho and Nova Unialco mills entered Bunge’s portfolio following the completion of its business combination with Viterra in July 2025. Their subsequent acquisition by COFCO International will shift ownership of the assets while keeping them within the broader network of Brazil’s globally connected agricultural industry.
The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
For COFCO International, the acquisition marks another step in building a larger and more resilient sugar platform in Brazil, reinforcing the country’s role in its global agricultural supply chain.
