Safra de cana-de-açúcar 2023-24 é a maior da história

Spanish Market: Agriculture, Biofuels
12/04/24

A safra de cana-de-açúcar do Centro-Sul de 2023-24 foi encerrada com a maior produção de etanol desde 2019-20 e a moagem mais elevada da história.

As usinas da região entregaram 33,59 milhões de m³ de etanol ao mercado na temporada — de 1 de abril de 2023 a 31 de março de 2024 —, alta de 16pc em relação aos 28,92 milhões de m³ no ciclo anterior e de 1pc em comparação ao recorde prévio, segundo dados da União da Indústria de Cana-de-Açúcar (Unica).

A produção de etanol hidratado cresceu 23pc na base anual, para 20,49 milhões de m³. Já a de anidro subiu 6,6pc, para 13,1 milhões de m³, ultrapassando o recorde anterior, registrado na safra 2022-23.

O processamento de etanol à base de milho para todo o período avançou 41pc na variação anual, para 6,29 milhões de m³. Isto representa cerca de 19pc do volume total de biocombustível produzido na região.

O mix de produção para a temporada ficou em 51pc para o etanol e 49pc para o açúcar, ante 54pc para o biocombustível e 46pc para o adoçante em 2022-23.

As usinas do Centro-Sul moeram 654,4 milhões de toneladas (t) de cana-de-açúcar no ciclo, um recorde no país. Na safra anterior, foram processadas 548,6 milhões de t.

Produtores venderam 32,7 milhões de m³ de etanol no período, salto de 12pc em relação à temporada anterior. No mercado doméstico, as vendas de hidratado subiram 20pc, para 18,6 milhões de m³, enquanto as de anidro subiram 5,7pc, para 11,67 milhões de m³.

Já as exportações recuaram 4,7pc, para 2,48 milhões de m³. A Coreia do Sul foi a maior compradora, com 33pc dos embarques, seguida por Estados Unidos e Holanda, com 18pc e 16pc, respectivamente.

A paridade favorável para o hidratado frente à gasolina na bomba impulsionou o consumo do biocombustível no período. A média da paridade para a safra ficou em 65pc, segundo dados da Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis (ANP).

Para 2024-25, a Unica espera que 230 unidades produtoras de etanol estejam operando até o fim de abril, ante 212 no mesmo período do ano passado.

Segunda metade de março

A produção de etanol no Centro-Sul cresceu 37pc, para 528.000m³ na segunda metade de março em comparação ao ano anterior.

A produção de hidratado atingiu 429.000m³, alta de 92pc, enquanto a de anidro caiu 38pc, para 99.000m³.

O mix de produção para a quinzena ficou em 66,5pc para o etanol e 33,5pc para o açúcar, frente a 64pc para o biocombustível e 36pc para o adoçante na segunda parte do mês em 2023. Enquanto isso, a moagem de cana-de-açúcar avançou 6,5pc, para 5 milhões de t.

Produtores venderam 1,8 milhão de m³ de hidratado no mercado doméstico, elevação em relação a 1,1 milhão de m³ no mesmo período do ano passado. As vendas de anidro totalizaram 937.000m³, ante 928.000m³. Já as exportações somaram 247.900m³, acima dos 244.400m³ de março de 2023.

Por Laura Guedes

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