South-Central region reduces sugar milling and production in June.

Sugar mills in the Center-South region processed 69,79 million tons of sugarcane in June, a volume 14,5% lower than that recorded in the same month of the 2025/2026 harvest, when milling totaled 81,62 million tons. In the accumulated total for the 2026/2027 harvest, up to July 1st, processing reached 214,47 million tons. This information is from UnicaData, a harvest monitoring report for the Center-South region up to July 1st, 2026, prepared by the Sugarcane Industry Union (Unica).

At the end of June, 255 production units were in operation in the region, including 235 sugarcane processing plants, 11 corn ethanol producers, and nine flex-fuel plants.

Sugar production also showed a sharp decline. In June, 3,90 million tons were produced, a 26,33% drop compared to the 5,30 million tons recorded in the same period of the previous harvest. In the accumulated 2026/2027 cycle, sweetener production reached 10,75 million tons, a 12,38% reduction year-on-year.

In contrast, ethanol production increased. During the month, mills produced 3,80 billion liters, a 2,47% increase compared to June of the previous harvest. Of this total, 2,26 billion liters corresponded to hydrated ethanol, a 1% decrease, while anhydrous ethanol totaled 1,54 billion liters, an 8,06% increase.

Since the start of the harvest, ethanol production totals 11,37 billion liters, a volume 20,44% higher than that recorded in the same period of the 2025/2026 cycle.

Corn ethanol expands market share

Corn ethanol accounted for 20,98% of total ethanol production in June, with 796,13 million liters, an increase of 8,4% compared to the 734,41 million liters produced in the same month of the previous harvest.

In the season as a whole, corn ethanol production reached 2,39 billion liters, an increase of 9,96% compared to the same period of the previous cycle.

Ethanol sales total 3,12 billion liters.

Ethanol sales by plants in the Center-South region totaled 3,12 billion liters in June. Of this volume, 1,27 billion liters corresponded to anhydrous ethanol and 1,85 billion liters to hydrated ethanol.

In the domestic market, sales of anhydrous ethanol reached 1,24 billion liters, a growth of 24,38% compared to June of the 2025/2026 harvest. Hydrated ethanol sales reached 1,78 billion liters, an increase of 4,16% on the same basis of comparison.

In the accumulated harvest up to the end of June, ethanol sales by units in the Center-South region reached 8,80 billion liters, an increase of 2,64% compared to the same period of the previous cycle. Of this total, 5,42 billion liters correspond to hydrated ethanol and 3,38 billion liters to anhydrous ethanol.