Cumulative harvests in the main sugarcane-producing regions of Brazil, the world's largest sugar producer, as of Dec. 16 increased sugarcane crush by 18% compared to the same period last year.
The south-central region of Brazil has confirmed new crush records before the 2023 24 crushing cycle officially ends on March 31 next year, data released this week by the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) showed, following a significant increase in sugarcane crush and sugar production in the first half of December.
Thanks to a favorable climate and investment in mills, sugarcane productivity has recovered, with an 18% increase in cane crush in the cumulative harvest of the world's largest sugar producer's main sugarcane region as of December 1629%。Compared to the same period of the previous year, it reached 638.4 billion tons.
With this processing volume, the total production in the central and southern regions in 2015-16 reached 617.7 billion tons, the best record in history.
After years of low productivity due to climate issues, agricultural yields in the central and southern regions increased by more than 20 percent (CTC) to 88 per hectare compared to the same period in the previous cycle (cumulative April-November), data from the Sugarcane Technology Center showed1 ton.
With the increased use of sugarcane for sugar production in 2023 24, which is more profitable than ethanol, sweetener production is up 25 percent from the same period last year16% to 41.75 million tons.
This production is behind the record high in 2020 21, when the sugar production in the central and southern regions was 38.5 million tons.
Although most of the crushing has been completed, these numbers should increase a bit towards the end of the harvest as more companies come into operation to handle larger harvests.
According to Unica, 162 units had been processed by the end of the first half of December, down from 214 units in the same period last year, when the harvest was smaller. According to the association, a further 83 production units are expected to complete the harvest in the next two weeks.
Sugar production in south-central Brazil more than tripled in the first half of December compared to the same period last year, with an increase of 205, UNICA data showed4% to 925,000 tons.
UNICA reported 19.08 million tonnes of sugarcane processed during the period, up 244 million tonnes from the previous year3%, and the total ethanol production jumped by 1137% to 10200 million liters.
Ethanol
In the cumulative harvest, ethanol yields (from sugarcane and corn) totaled 308700 million liters, an increase of 13 over the same period of the previous harvest65%, of which 18.4 billion liters of hydrous alcohol (+17..)57%) and 12.5 billion liters of anhydrous alcohol. Ethanol (+8..)3%)。
According to Unica, ethanol production is up from 332 recorded in 2019The 600 million litre record is still some way off.
According to UNICA, in the first half of December, ethanol sales by production unit totaled 14300 million liters, an increase of 25 compared to the same period of 22 23 harvest90%。
During the period, sales of hydrated ethanol increased by more than 50% to 949.15 million liters.
Sales of anhydrous ethanol (mixed with gasoline in Brazil) totaled 479.17 million liters in the first half of the month, down 469%。
In recent months, the sale of hydrous ethanol has become more competitive than gasoline after fossil fuels became part of the most competitive crop at gas stations.
With record sugarcane production and an increase in corn fuel production, the cumulative ethanol sales for the 2023 FY24 harvest reached 224700 million liters, an increase of 691%。
Sales of hydrous ethanol this harvest totalled 133600 million litres (up 9.)60%), and the sales volume of absolute ethanol reached 91200 million litres (up 3.)19%)。