UNICA: Corn accounts for 27% of Brazilian ethanol production during 2025-’26 harvest season

UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has released final data for the 2025-’26 sugarcane harvest season, which began April 1, 2025, and concluded March 31, 2026. Sugarcane processing and sugarcane ethanol production were down, but corn ethanol production continued to grow.

Mills in the south-central region of Brazil processed 611.15 million metric tons of sugarcane during the 2025-’26 harvest season, down from 621.93 million metric tons during the previous harvest season.

Total ethanol production reached 33.72 billion liters (8.91 billion gallons), down 3.56% when compared to record-setting production reported for the 2024-’25 harvest season. Production included 20.83 billion liters of hydrous ethanol, down 7.82%, and 12.89 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol, up 4.22%.

Corn ethanol announced for 9.19 billion liters of production, up 12.26% and accounting for 27.28% of total ethanol Brazilian ethanol production during the 2025-’26 harvest season.

Total domestic sales for the 2025-’26 harvest season reached 20.34 billion liters. Sales included 20.34 billion liters of hydrous ethanol and 13.04 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol. Anhydrous sales were up 7.08%, with the increase driven in part by Brazil’s move to an E30 blend of fuel in mid-2025, according to UNICA.