During the second half of February, sugarcane milling in the Center-South region totaled 551.73 thousand tons. In the same period of the previous year, the processed amount was 71.79 thousand tons. In the cumulative total of the 2023/2024 harvest, milling reached 647.15 million tons, compared to 543.28 million tons registered in the same period of the 2022/2023 cycle - an increase of 19.12%.

In the second half of February, two units began the 2024/2025 harvest. At the end of the fortnight, there are 17 operating production units in the Center-South region, including five units processing sugarcane, nine companies producing ethanol from corn, and three flex plants. In the same period of the 22/23 harvest, 15 production units were in operation. During this fortnight, the start of operation of a new corn ethanol unit in Mato Grosso do Sul was registered.

In a preliminary survey conducted by UNICA, it is expected that 28 production units will resume activities during the first half of March. The pace of mills' return may vary depending on the climatic conditions of each sugarcane region.

The quality of the harvested raw material accumulated since the beginning of the harvest until the second half of February, measured in kg of TRS per ton of processed sugarcane, showed a reduction of 1.13% compared to the same period of the last agricultural cycle, reaching 139.55 kg of TRS per ton in this harvest.

Sugar and ethanol production

Sugar production in the second half of February was 16.13 thousand tons. Since April 1st, the production of the sweetener totals 42.18 million tons, against 33.56 million tons from the previous cycle (25.66%).

In the second half of February, 328.83 million liters (114%) of ethanol were produced by Center-South units. Of the total volume produced, hydrated ethanol reached 294.65 million liters (197%), while anhydrous ethanol production totaled 34.18 million liters (-37.86%). Since the beginning of the current agricultural cycle until March 1st, the production of the biofuel totals 32.70 billion liters (15.68%), with 19.72 billion liters of hydrated ethanol (21.44%) and 12.98 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol (7.91%).

Of the total ethanol production recorded in the second half of January, 89% came from corn, with production reaching 292.94 million liters this year, compared to 149.81 million liters in the same period of the 22/23 cycle - an increase of 95.53%. Since the beginning of the harvest, corn ethanol production reached 5.70 billion liters - a significant increase of 42.82% compared to the same period last year.

Ethanol sales

In February 2024, ethanol sales totaled 2.82 billion liters, representing an increase of 32.44% compared to the same period of the 22/23 harvest. The volume of anhydrous ethanol sold in the period was 998.80 million liters - an increase of 5.28% - while hydrated ethanol recorded sales of 1.82 billion liters - a growth of 54.24%.

In the domestic market, sales of hydrated ethanol in February totaled 1.68 billion liters - a variation of 53.91% compared to the previous year. Compared to January 2024, the high competitiveness of the biofuel against the fossil competitor keeps the demand for the renewable fuel strong, indicating a 11% growth in sales per business day, even in a month with three fewer business days than January. Anhydrous ethanol sales, on the other hand, were 975.91 million liters - an increase of 10.70%. With this result, the volume sold in the domestic market totaled 2.66 billion liters, 34.63% higher than in the same month of the previous year.

In the cumulative total of the 23/24 harvest, ethanol sales amount to 29.76 billion liters, representing an increase of 11.19%. Hydrated ethanol comprises a sale volume of 18.08 billion liters (18.63%), while anhydrous comprises 11.68 billion (1.35%).

CBios Market

Data from B3, until March 8th, indicate the issuance of 7.68 million credits in 2024. The obligated parties of the RenovaBio program hold 41.23 million decarbonization credits - this amount already exceeds the target set for 2023, of 37.47 million CBios, and the compliance deadline ends on March 31st.