Brazil's Northeast and North Regions See Continued Decline in Sugarcane Crushing

According to a report from the Brazilian Association of Sugar, Ethanol, and Bioenergy Producers (NovaBio), based on data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture (Mapa), sugarcane crushing in Brazil's Northeast and North regions for the 2025/26 season reached a cumulative total of 54.4 million tons by March 15. This represents a 2.9% decrease compared to the same period in the previous cycle, with a notable shift towards higher ethanol production. Of the total sugarcane processed during this period, 54.74% was directed towards ethanol production. Specifically, in the North region, sugarcane crushing remained at 6.9 million tons, consistent with figures reported at the end of February, but still 5.3% below the volume recorded in the same interval last season. In the Northeast, sugarcane processing reached 47.4 million tons, a 2.6% reduction from the volume recorded on the same date in the previous cycle. Considering both regions, sugar production for the current season, up to March 15, amounted to 3.075 million tons, marking a significant 16.7% decrease compared to the same period last year. In contrast to the decline in sugar output, ethanol production has shown an upward trend. Total ethanol production in the North and Northeast regions, by March 15, reached 2.888 billion liters, encompassing both sugarcane-derived and corn-based biofuels. This figure is substantially higher than the 2.189 billion liters recorded in the same period of the previous cycle. Within the sugarcane ethanol category, anhydrous ethanol production totaled 871 million liters, an annual increase of 4.9%.