Brazil’s sugarcane crushing down in first half of June: UNICA

Unfavorable weather conditions during the first half of June have slowed Brazil’s sugarcane harvest and reduced ethanol production, according to data released by UNICA, the country’s sugarcane industry association. However, corn ethanol production continues to show steady growth.

Mills in Brazil’s south-central region, the country’s primary sugarcane-producing zone, processed 38.78 million metric tons of sugarcane in the first half of June, down 21.49% compared to the same period last year. Since the start of the current harvest season on April 1, total sugarcane processing has reached 163.57 million metric tons, a 14.33% drop from the same point in 2024.

Ethanol output for the first half of June fell accordingly. Mills produced a total of 1.78 billion liters, including 1.1 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol (used in gasoline blends), down 17.97%, and 677.59 million liters of hydrous ethanol (used in flex-fuel vehicles), down 26.97%. In contrast, corn ethanol production climbed to 256.98 million liters during the period, an increase of 16.54%, making up 20% of total ethanol output.

Since the beginning of the harvest season, total ethanol production stands at 7.5 billion liters, down 14.21% from the same time last year. This includes 4.94 billion liters of hydrous ethanol (down 13.02%) and 2.56 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol (down 16.41%). Corn ethanol production has reached 1.8 billion liters so far—up 22.02% year-on-year.

Ethanol sales have also declined. During the first half of June, mills sold 1.26 billion liters—13.92% less than in the same period last year. Sales included 803.95 million liters of hydrous ethanol (down 15.93%) and 460.01 million liters of anhydrous ethanol (down 10.18%).

Domestic sales during this time included 779.9 million liters of hydrous ethanol, a decrease of 16.58%, and 442.61 million liters of anhydrous ethanol, down 11.64%.

Overall ethanol sales since April 1 have totaled 7.02 billion liters, down 4.47% from the same time last year. This includes 4.52 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, down 7.41%, while anhydrous ethanol sales rose slightly to 2.51 billion liters, up 1.32%.