UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association has announced sales of hydrous ethanol increased at mills in the south-central region of Brazil during the first half of August, while the ratio of sugar production decreased.

According to UNICA, plants in the south-central region of Brazil processed 45.29 million tons of sugarcane during the first half of August, up slightly from 45.13 million tons during the same period of last year.

Approximately 50.04 percent of the sugarcane processed during the first half of August went to sugar production. Sugar production reached 3.16 million tons during the first half of the month, while ethanol production reached 1.95 billion liters (515.14 million gallons), including 858.19 million liters of anhydrous ethanol and 1.09 billion liters of hydrous ethanol.

Since the beginning of the current harvest, mills have processed 342.61 million tons of sugarcane, down 4.09 percent from the same period of last year. Ethanol production has reached 13.52 billion liters, down 8.79 percent from the same period of last year. This includes 7.76 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, down 13.02 percent, and 5.85 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol, down 2.57 percent. Since the beginning of the current season, sugar production has reached 20.72 million tons.

During the first half of August, mills in the south-central region sold 1.03 billion liters of ethanol into the domestic market, up 4.38 percent when compared to the second half of July. UNICA attributes the increase to the recovery of domestic sales of hydrous ethanol, which reached 644.28 million liters, compared to 564.12 million liters during the second half of July. The volume of anhydrous ethanol sold, however, decreased, reaching 390.56 million liters, compared to 427.28 million liters during the second half of July. UNICA also reported that only 77.49 million liters of ethanol were exported during the first half of August.