Brazil: We will import U.S. ethanol when needed

Des Moines Register
11:31 PM, May. 18, 2011
Written by LYNN HICKS

The world's biggest producer of sugarcane ethanol has no problem using its corn-made cousin, the Brazilian ambassador to the U.S. said Wednesday.

"As long as we need it, we'll import it," said Ambassador Mauro Vieira, who met with editors from The Des Moines Register on Wednesday.

Brazil imported a record amount of ethanol in the first quarter of 2011, because of a poor sugarcane harvest last year, high sugar prices and higher domestic demand, said Platts, an energy information service. Most of that imported ethanol came from the United States; Iowa is the nation's largest producer.

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