Ethanol Blog

By George Orwel
DTN/The Progressive Farmer Refined Fuels Reporter

NEW YORK (DTN) -- The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, the ethanol lobby group known as UNICA, said today sugarcane processing in the South-Central region of the South American country rose 209% during the second half of November compared to the corresponding period a year earlier.

The total sugarcane crushed for the two weeks period from Nov. 15 to Nov. 30 was 28.5 million metric tons compared with 9.22 mmt for same period in 2011, UNICA said in an emailed statement.

Total ethanol produced from Nov. 15 to Nov. 30 was 1.09 billion liters, which is equivalent to 287.76 million gallons. Out of that, 601.04 million liters or 158.67 million gallons were hydrous ethanol while 488.65 million liters or 129 million gallons were anhydrous ethanol.

The total cumulative ethanol produced during the period from April 1 to Nov. 30 was 20.38 billion liters or 5.38 billion gallons of which 8.44 billion liters or 2.23 million gallons were anhydrous, up 8.2% year-on-year. Hydrous production at 11.94 billion liters or 3.15 million gallons fell 4.2% for the same period year-on-year.

Total ethanol sales from April 1 to Nov. 30 were 14.92 billion liters or 3.94 billion gallons, up 1.76% compared to the same period in 2011.

Brazil produces both hydrous ethanol, which is used domestically in flex fuel vehicles, and anhydrous ethanol, which must be blended with gasoline before being used to power regular automobiles.

Brazil's anhydrous fuel ethanol is mostly for exports to the United States and other countries.

George Orwel can be reached at george.orwel@telventdtn.com