More Brazilian sugar going to ethanol

Des Moines Register
10:18 AM, Nov 29, 2011 by Dan Piller

Brazil’s sugar cane production is down about 8 percent this year, but the country is increasing production of ethanol for which sugar cane is the main feedstock.

Brazil’s sugarcane association said this week that “ethanol, production from the beginning of the harvest to October was up 12.75 percent over the same period a year ago, despite a decline of 8.8 percent in overall (sugarcane) crushing.”

The association said between 49 percent and 51 percent of Brazil’s sugarcane production goes to ethanol. In the U.S., about 40 percent of the anticipated 12.4 billion bushel corn crop is expected to be ground for ethanol in the coming year.

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