UNICA has reported a strong rise in sugarcane crushing and ethanol production during the first half of April as Brazil’s new sugarcane harvesting season began on April 1.
According to the industry body, sugar mills in Brazil’s south-central region processed 19.56 million metric tonnes of sugarcane during the first two weeks of April, marking an increase of 19.67 percent compared to the same period last year, Ethanol Producer Magazine reported.
Ethanol production in the region also recorded significant growth, reaching 1.23 billion litres during the period, up 33.32 percent year-on-year. The total output included 879.87 million litres of hydrous ethanol, which rose by 18.54 percent, and 350.2 million litres of anhydrous ethanol.
Corn-based ethanol production continued its upward trend as well. UNICA said corn ethanol output touched 411.94 million litres, registering a growth of 15.06 percent compared to last year. Corn ethanol accounted for 33.49 percent of the total ethanol produced during the fortnight.
Ethanol sales by mills in the south-central region stood at 1.28 billion litres in the first half of April. This included 820.15 million litres of hydrous ethanol and 460.87 million litres of anhydrous ethanol.
Domestic ethanol sales reached 1.25 billion litres, comprising 819.6 million litres of hydrous ethanol and 432.54 million litres of anhydrous ethanol. Exports rose by 18.03 percent to 28.88 million litres during the period.
