Brazil was a net importer of 5.7 million liters of ethanol in October, compared with 93 million liters net exporter in September, data from the Secretariat of foreign trade (SECEX) showed Tuesday.
Ethanol imports amounted to nearly 72 million liters, up 37% from the previous month and up from just 9.7 million liters in October 2015. Exports, by contrast, were the lowest since April 2015 at 66.3 million liters.
Exports were also down 55% from September and down 75% from October 2015. Last time Brazil was a net importer was in April, when imports totaled 83 million liters and exports were 72.3 million liters.
Almost 100% of the volume imported entered the country through the Northeast region via Itaqui and Suape ports, with the origin the US.
Although the volume exported in October was low, Brazil remains a net exporter this year.
Cumulative ethanol exports in the first 10 months of the year were 1.69 billion liters, up 22% year on year, while imports were 554.5 million liters, up 13% from same period last year.
Roughly 96% of the total imports entered via the Northeast ports, while the balance through the Southeast.
Ethanol imports increased this year amid an increase in gasoline consumption on lower demand for the biofuel hydrous.
The lower demand for hydrous has been a result of higher prices in the domestic market on lower production.
The ethanol imported is anhydrous, which is mixed with gasoline at a proportion of 27%. Hydrous is used as a stand-alone biofuel in flex-fuel vehicles.
The majority of the ethanol in the country is produced from the feedstock sugarcane.
Both types are used in industry and are also exported.
