Agroconsult predicts 15% growth for Brazil’s ethanol production

Production of ethanol in Brazil is expected to grow by 15% year-on-year, to 23.8 billion liters in the forthcoming 2012-13 season. Agroconsult, the consulting firm that specializes in agribusiness, said that the projected growth will be driven by a rebound in Brazil’s center-south sugarcane crop. The figure reflects a 9.1% increase from the total reached in the 2011-12 season. Agroconsult said improved weather conditions and the construction of new plants to replace the old ones will help boost yields to 72.3 metric tons (mt) /hectare. Yields for the 2011-12 season were pegged at 68.6 mt/hectare. For the first time in 11 years, the sugarcane harvest of Brazil declined in the 2011-2012 season because of poor weather and the lack of investments for expanding and replanting crops. (March 8, 2012)