Sugarcane processing during the first half of September has been increased, along with strong growth in both domestic and export ethanol sales, reports UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, according to Ethanol Producer Magazine.
According to the association, mills in Brazil’s south-central region processed 45.97 million metric tons of sugarcane in the first two weeks of September, marking a 6.94% increase compared to the same period last year. Since the beginning of the current harvest season on April 1, total sugarcane milling has reached 450.01 million metric tons, down 3.68% from a year ago.
During the first half of September, mills produced 2.33 billion liters (615.52 million gallons) of ethanol. This included 1.46 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, which fell 9.68% year-on-year, and 875.4 million liters of anhydrous ethanol, up 4.35%. Corn-based ethanol production reached 390.13 million liters, rising 15.97% and accounting for 16.74% of total ethanol output during the period.
Since the start of the harvest season, total ethanol production has reached 20.81 billion liters, a decline of 9.5% from the same period last year. This includes 13.02 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, down 11.36%, and 7.79 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol, down 6.21%. Corn ethanol output, however, has continued to rise, totaling 4.12 billion liters — a 19.43% increase year-on-year.
Ethanol sales during the first half of September stood at 1.56 billion liters. This included 599.05 million liters of anhydrous ethanol, up 25.89%, and 963.62 million liters of hydrous ethanol, up 13.42%. Domestic sales reached 864.79 million liters of hydrous ethanol, a 5.89% increase, and 587.19 million liters of anhydrous ethanol, up 23.4%.
Exports also surged sharply during the period, totaling 110.7 million liters — a 235.7% increase from the same time last year. This included 98.84 million liters of hydrous ethanol and 11.86 million liters of anhydrous ethanol.
Since the beginning of the current harvest, total ethanol sales have reached 15.98 billion liters, slightly down by 1.6% compared to last year. Sales comprised 10.06 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, down 4.62%, and 5.92 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol, which rose 3.99%.
