Sugarcane crushed in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state over the second half of September reached 2.71 million mt, up 39.8% from the same period last year, Association of Bioenergy Producers of Mato Grosso do Sul, or Biosul, data showed Thursday.
If not for heavy rains, the crushing could have reached roughly 3.5 million mt in the second half of September, according to Kingsman, the agricultural unit of Platts.
In September, it rained twice the historical average in Mato Grosso do Sul, in Brazil's Center-South, reaching 232 mm (9.2 inches). Mills lost three-four days of harvesting to the wet weather, according to Biosul.
"Throughout this season the rain delayed production in the state in about 3 million mt of cane," Biosul President Roberto Hollanda said. "However, as we are going to extend the crushing, it is a deficit that can be recovered."
Despite the rain, the 33.11 million mt accumulated volume of sugarcane processed to date is 15.5% higher than last season.
The ATR -- or total recoverable sugar/ton of cane -- reached 151.73 kg in second-half September, while the accumulated ATR so far this season is 130.29 kg, down 1.5% on the year.
Since the beginning of the season in April until end-September, nearly 965,000 mt of sugar was produced, up 10% from 877,000 mt in the same period last season.
Total ethanol production amounted to 1.94 billion liters, up 19.6% from last season. Of that total, 1.49 billion liters were hydrous ethanol and 459.45 million liters were anhydrous ethanol.
First estimates from Biosul released April 23 showed that Mato Grosso do Sul should crush more than 50 million mt of cane this season, up from 43.8 million mt in the 2014-15 season. The harvest began in April and should last until January.
HYDROUS ETHANOL CONSUMPTION UP ON THE YEAR
From the beginning of the season through August hydrous ethanol consumption in Mato Grosso do Sul state was up 79% at nearly 97 million liters, National Petroleum Agency (ANP)data showed.
Mills boosted hydrous ethanol production this season due to fast liquidity in the domestic market and lower sugar prices. With lower hydrous ex-mill prices, prices at the pumps were much more competitive than gasoline.
Hydrous prices at the pump was on average at 69.3% of gasoline in the state during the April-August period, compared with 72.4% during the same period last year, the ANP data showed.
Hydrous fuel ethanol is used in Brazil as a standalone biofuel (E100) in flex-fuel vehicles. To be more competitive than gasoline in Brazil, E100 has to be below 70% of gasoline price.
