BRAZIL: 2009/10 cane crush at 142.15 million tonnes to June 15
Published: 07/02/2009, 7:54:30 AM
UNICA says Brazil's centre-south 2009/10 sugarcane crush was at 142.15 million metric tonnes as of June 15, according to Dow Jones.
The volume is almost 32% higher than the same period during the 2008/09 crop year, UNICA said.
The association said earlier the fast pace of the new centre-south crush was a result of mills starting their harvest and crushing earlier to raise operating cash.
Brazil's centre-south region's accumulated sugar production is 6.75 million tonnes, up 43% from the year-ago crop, according to the trade association.
Total ethanol production was 6 billion litres in the period, up 28.32% from the same period a year ago.
Mills with the alternative of producing sugar or ethanol have prioritised output of sugar because of prices. The prices of sugar are 46% higher than those of ethanol in domestic and foreign markets, UNICA said, citing research carried out in June.
UNICA said 59.18% of the crop was going to make ethanol and 40.82% going to sugar production as of June 15. The mix was 64.86% ethanol and 35.14% sugar a year ago.