In the first half of October, production units in the central and southern regions processed 33.83 million tons, compared to 32.93 million tons in the 2023/2024 crop – an increase of 2.75%. In the 2024/2025 harvest until October 16, crushing reached 538.85 million tons, compared to 526.43 million tons recorded in the same period of the previous cycle, with a growth of 2.36%.
In the first half of October, 255 production units operated in the central and southern region, 236 sugarcane processing units, nine companies that make ethanol from corn and ten flex plants. In the same period, in the 23/24 season, 259 production units were operated.
By the end of the first half of October, seven units had stopped crushing. In total, 12 units have completed operations in the 2024/2025 cycle. During the same period of the previous harvest, four plants were completed crushing.
Regarding the quality of the raw material, the level of total recoverable sugars (ATR) recorded in the first half of October was 160.30 kg of ATR per ton of sugarcane, compared to 149.84 kg per ton in the 2023/2024 crop – a positive variance of 6.98%. In the cumulative harvest result, the indicator shows 142.23 kg TRS per ton, which is slightly higher (1.03%) than the indicator of the last cycle at the same position.
Sugar and ethanol production
Sugar production in the first 15 days of October reached 2.44 million tons. In the cumulative period from the beginning of the harvest until October 16, desalination production reached 35.59 million tons, compared to 34.91 million tons in the previous cycle (+1.93%).
In the first half of October, only 47.28% of sugarcane was used for sugar production, a decline compared to 48.12% recorded in the same period of the previous year.
Ethanol manufacturing by units in the center and south, in turn, reached 2.01 billion liters in the first half of the month, with 1.29 billion liters of hydrous ethanol (+21.95%) and 722.07 million liters of anhydrous ethanol (+3.56%). . In the accumulated period from the beginning of harvest to October 16, the total biofuel production reached 27.21 billion liters (+7.93%), of which 17.39 billion hydro-ethanol (+16.81%) and 9.81 billion anhydrous liters (-4.88%).
Bi-weekly production of corn ethanol represents 16.31% of biofuels manufactured in the center and south, reaching 327.43 million liters – an increase of 31.08%. In the backlog since the beginning of the harvest, corn ethanol production reached 4.13 billion liters – an increase of 27.35% compared to the same period last year.
Ethanol sales
In the first half of October, ethanol sales totaled 1.46 billion litres, representing a positive variance of 17.20% compared to the same period of the 2023/2024 harvest.
In the domestic market, the total volume of hydro-ethanol sold by central and southern units reached 902.74 million liters, representing an increase of 14.10% compared to the same period of the previous season. In contrast, anhydrous ethanol sales reached 532.29 million liters, an increase of 28.77%.
In the accumulated period from the beginning of the harvest until October 16, total ethanol sales by units in the center and south reached 19.30 billion liters, registering a growth of 16.29%. The accumulated volume of hydrous ethanol was 12.51 billion liters (+29.08%), while that of anhydrous ethanol was 6.79 billion liters (-1.66%).
According to UNICA Intelligence Sector Director, Luciano Rodriguez, although sugarcane crushing is expected to decline in the 2024/2025 cycle, ethanol supplies to the domestic market will have to be compensated by growth in ethanol production from corn, due to the lower sugar production mix in the case of sugarcane. The expected decline in biofuel exports and the increase in carryover stocks at the beginning of this harvest. “This scenario ensures supply comfort until the end of the off-season and enhances the decarbonization promoted by biofuels on the national market,” the CEO added.
CBIOS Market
Data from B3 through October 21 indicate 33.76 million credits will be issued in 2024 by biofuel producers. The total amount of CBios available for trading held by committed and non-committed parties and issuers is 28.61 million decarbonisation credits.
“Adding the CBios available for sale and the credits already drawn to achieve the 2024 target, we already have about 97% of the addresses needed to fully meet the amount requested by the program for the end of this year,” explained the UNICA director. (unique)
