The amount of sugarcane crushed in Brazil's Parana state in the first 15 days of January totaled 302,399 mt, up 340% from 68,911 mt same time last year, the Bioenergy Producers Association of Parana, or Alcopar, said Friday.
Parana is one of the sugarcane producing states in Center-South Brazil, the largest producing region in the world. The 2015-16 sugarcane season in Center-South started in April, with seasons usually lasting seven months.
"From the 25 units in operation this season in the state, 16 have ceased production, seven continue to operate and one is paralyzed and will return to produce in February," Alcopar told Platts.
The ATR -- or total recoverable sugar per metric ton of cane -- was down 12.14 kg/mt from same period a year ago and down from 124.13 kg/mt in H2 December.
Sugar production in H1 January reached 2,755 mt, up from 685 mt year on year.
Ethanol production was 15.56 million liters, from just four million liters same time in 2015.
Since the season began April 1 through mid-January, the total sugarcane crushed has fallen 8% on the year to 39.45 million mt. This figure represents 98.5% of total cane expected to be crushed this season. Alcopar's crushing estimates for the 2015-16 season is 40.06 million mt, down 7% from the previous season.
Sugar production totaled 2.68 million mt so far this season, down 8% year on year, while ethanol production was down 7.5% to 1.48 billion liters.
Of that ethanol total, 918 million liters was hydrous ethanol, down 15% year on year, and 565 million liters was anhydrous, up 7%, Alcopar said.
