Sugarcane production in the Center-South region grows 10,68% in August

Mills in the Center-South region processed 50,06 million tons of sugarcane in the second half of August, a 10,68% increase compared to the 45,23 million tons recorded in the same period of the 2024/25 harvest. In the 2025/26 cycle through September 1, the milling reached 403,94 million tons, representing a 4,78% decrease compared to the 424,21 million tons in the previous cycle. The data was released by the Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Association (Unica).

According to the entity, 257 production units were in operation during the period: 237 processing sugarcane, ten producing corn ethanol, and another ten operating as flex-fuel plants. In the same period last year, the number was higher, with 261 active units.

Raw material quality

The level of Total Recoverable Sugars (ATR) in the second half of August was 149,79 kg per ton of sugarcane, a decrease of 3,87% compared to the 155,82 kg recorded in the 2024/25 cycle. In the accumulated harvest, the ATR totals 131,76 kg/t, a decrease of 4,16% in the annual comparison.

Data from the Sugarcane Technology Center (CTC) indicate that agricultural productivity averaged 79,3 tons per hectare from April to August, an 8% decrease compared to the previous cycle. As a result, the amount of ATR per harvested hectare (TAH) fell by an average of 12%, with the most significant losses in Minas Gerais (-22,6%) and Goiás (-16,3%).

Sugar and ethanol production

Sugar production in the second half of August totaled 3,87 million tons. The cumulative total for the harvest is 26,76 million tons, 1,92% below the previous cycle. The production mix for the sweetener was 54,2% in the period, compared to 55% in the previous two weeks.

Ethanol production reached 2,42 billion liters, of which 1,46 billion were hydrous (-7,61%) and 964,57 million were anhydrous (+8,34%). The sector's total production reached 18,48 billion liters, a 10,05% decrease compared to the 2024/25 cycle.

Corn ethanol production continues to rise: 405,92 million liters in the period, an increase of 17,45%. Cumulatively, it has reached 3,73 billion liters, an increase of 19,81% compared to the same period last year.

Ethanol sales

In August, ethanol sales totaled 2,93 billion liters. Anhydrous ethanol sales reached 1,16 billion liters (+1,73%), while hydrous ethanol sales fell to 1,77 billion liters (-10,36%).

In the domestic market, hydrous sales reached 1,69 billion liters (-8,36%) and anhydrous sales reached 1,11 billion liters (+6,87%). In the accumulated harvest, the total sales reached 14,41 billion liters (-3,38%).

CBios

As of September 15, biofuel producers had issued 29,85 million CBios. The volume available for trading totals 33,54 million credits, representing approximately 94% of the RenovaBio program's 2025 target, according to Unica.