UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has released a new biweekly report, announcing that mills in the country’s south-central region processed 39.34 million tons of sugarcane during the first half of October. Since the beginning of the current season, 480.78 million tons has been processed, up 1.45 percent from last year.

As of mid-October, 22 mills had wrapped up the 2014-’15 season, up from only six mills last year. According to UNICA, the 22 mills that have wrapped up the current season processed 23 percent less sugarcane than last year.

More sugarcane continues to go to ethanol production than sugar production. During the first half of October, only 43.25 percent of sugarcane when to sugar production.

During the first half of the month, 1.91 billion liters (504.56 million gallons) of ethanol was produced, including 780.21 million liters of anhydrous ethanol and 1.13 billion liters of hydrous ethanol.

According to UNICA, ethanol sales by south-central producing units during the first half of October reached 1.05 billion liters, with 1.01 billion liters sold into the domestic market and 33 million liters destined for export. Hydrous ethanol sales to the country’s domestic market totaled 611.97 million liters, up from 585.68 million liters during the second half of September. Domestic sales of anhydrous ethanol totaled 401.03 million liters during the first half of October, up from 394.01 million liters during the same period of last year.

Since April, ethanol sales have totaled 13.11 billion liters, with most of that production, 12.34 billion liters, sold domestically. From April through the first half of October, only 773.57 million liters was destined for export.