UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has released a crop update for the second half of December, reporting ethanol production reached 24.91 billion liters (6.58 billion gallons) from the start of the current season through Jan. 1. That volume includes 10.54 billion liters of anhydrous ethanol and 14.37 billion liters of hydrous ethanol.

From April 1, which was the start of the current season, through the end of 2016, UNICA said Brazilian mills processed 591.99 million tons of sugarcane. In addition to 24.91 billion liters of ethanol, the mills also produced 35.2 million tons of sugar, up from 30.433 million tons during the previous season.

During the second half of December, 3.07 million tons of sugarcane were processed. Biweekly production sugar totaled 127,360 tons and ethanol production reached 167.28 million liters, including 120.97 million liters of hydrous ethanol and 46.31 million liters of anhydrous ethanol.

According to UNICA, most of the companies operating in the south-center region of Brazil closed operations for the current harvest by the end of December. Only 15 production units were continuing to process sugarcane in early January. Some companies are expected to resume processing sugarcane in March.

Ethanol sales by the south-central producing units reached 2.11 billion liters in December, with 74.17 million liters sold into export markets and 2.03 billion milters into the domestic market.

In the domestic market, UNICA said both anhydrous and hydrous ethanol sold was down when compared to December 2015. Monthly sales of anhydrous ethanol reached 906.52 million liters in December, compared to 936.54 million during the same period of 2015. The volume of hydrous ethanol reached 1.13 billion liters in December, compared to 1.41 billion liters during the same period of 2015. 

Fount: http://ethanolproducer.com/articles/14087/unica-most-brazilian-sugarcane-mills-wrap-up-2016-undefined17-harvest