Brazil exports more ethanol to Asia

A rise in Brazilian ethanol exports to India, Japan and South Korea has offset some of the sharp drop in shipments to the United States, Brazil’s top ethanol market in 2008, according to the Cane Industry Association, Unica. Brazil’s ethanol exports to India, null in the first half of 2008, stood at 182.5 million liters so far this year. India, which has had a steep fall in cane output, bought 66 million liters of Brazilian ethanol in 2008. Shipments to Japan totaled 128.1 million liters from January through June, up 70 million liters from the same period last year. Direct exports to the U.S. market, on the other hand, plunged to 72.6 million liters from 498 million liters in the first half of last year. “The drop in direct exports to the U.S. market is all down to prices. Supplies are high over there and prices are low,” said Unica’s technical director, Antonio de Padua Rodrigues. (July 17, 2009)