Sugarcane milling grows 2,75% until October 2024

In the first half of October, the production units in the Center-South region processed 33,83 million tons compared to 32,93 million in the 2023/2024 harvest – an increase of 2,75%. In the accumulated total for the 2024/2025 harvest up to October 16, milling reached 538,85 million tons, compared to 526,43 million tons recorded in the same period in the previous cycle – an increase of 2,36%.

In the first half of October, 255 production units operated in the Center-South region, of which 236 units processed sugarcane, nine companies produced ethanol from corn and ten flex plants. In the same period, in the 23/24 harvest, 259 production units operated.

By the end of the first half of October, seven units had finished milling. In total, 12 units had finished operations in the 2024/2025 cycle. In the same period of the previous harvest, four plants had finished milling.

Regarding the quality of the raw material, the level of Total Recoverable Sugars (ATR) recorded in the first half of October reached 160,30 kg of ATR per ton of sugarcane, against 149,84 kg per ton in the 2023/2024 harvest - a positive variation of 6,98%. In the accumulated harvest, the indicator marks 142,23 kg of ATR per ton, a slightly higher index (1,03%) than the last cycle in the same position.

Sugar and ethanol production

Sugar production in the first fifteen days of October was 2,44 million tons. In the accumulated period since the beginning of the harvest until October 16, the production of the sweetener totaled 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 sugar cane was used to manufacture sugar, a drop compared to the 48,12% recorded in the same period of the previous year.

Ethanol production by the Center-South units, in turn, reached 2,01 billion liters in the first half of the month, of which 1,29 billion liters were hydrated ethanol (+21,95%) and 722,07 million liters were anhydrous ethanol (+3,56%). In the accumulated period since the beginning of the harvest until October 16, biofuel production totaled 27,21 billion liters (+7,93%), of which 17,39 billion were hydrated ethanol (+16,81%) and 9,81 billion were anhydrous (-4,88%).

The biweekly production of corn ethanol represented 16,31% of the biofuel produced in the Center-South, reaching 327,43 million liters – an increase of 31,08%. In the accumulated total 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 liters, which represents a positive variation of 17,20% compared to the same period of the 2023/2024 harvest.

In the domestic market, the volume of hydrated ethanol sold by the Center-South units totaled 902,74 million liters, which represents an increase of 14,10% compared to the same period of the previous harvest. The sale of anhydrous ethanol, in turn, reached the mark of 532,29 million liters, an increase of 28,77%.

From the beginning of the harvest until October 16, ethanol sales by units in the Center-South totaled 19,30 billion liters, representing growth of 16,29%. The accumulated volume of hydrated ethanol totaled 12,51 billion liters (+29,08%), while anhydrous ethanol reached 6,79 billion liters (-1,66%).

According to Luciano Rodrigues, Unica's Director of Sector Intelligence, despite the expected decline in sugarcane milling in the 2024/2025 cycle, the supply of ethanol to the domestic market should be offset by the growth in corn ethanol production, the lower production mix for sugar in the case of sugarcane, the expected reduction in biofuel exports and the larger carryover stock at the beginning of this harvest. "This scenario ensures comfort for supply until the end of the off-season and enhances the decarbonization promoted by biofuel in the domestic market," added the executive.

CBios market

Data from B3 up to October 21 indicate the issuance of 33,76 million credits in 2024 by biofuel producers. The amount of CBios available for trading held by the obligated party, non-obligated party and issuers totals 28,61 million decarbonization credits.

“Adding the CBios available for sale and the credits already retired to meet the 2024 target, we already have around 97% of the titles necessary to fully meet the amount required by the Program for the end of this year”, highlighted the director of Unica.