It is reported by S&P Global Platts.

During the survey, the cane crush estimate ranged from 37 to 43.8 million tonnes. The average estimate was for a total cane crush of 41.4 million tonnes, down 7.5% on the year.

Weather in the Center-South region was mostly favorable for crushing during H1 August, with less than two days expected lost to rain and 255-260 mills active as of Aug. 16.

«During the period, the spread between sugar and ethanol prices widened, incentivizing an even higher sugar mix, — according to Platts Analytics. — On the other hand, significant rainfall might have disrupted both the harvest and ATR growth in the southern region of CS Brazil, which is not favorable for sugar production».

The proportion of cane used for sugar production is expected to be 47.75%, up from 46.89% a year earlier. Brazilian producers took advantage of the recent high price of ethanol during the early stages of the harvest, but now mills are shifting more of their cane crush toward sugar production.

The recoverable sugar per ton of sugar cane, or ATR, is expected to be 151 kg/mt, down 1.3% year on year.

Total ethanol output from sugar cane is expected to be 2.11 billion liters in H1 August, down 5% year on year.

Hydrous ethanol output was expected to be 1.25 billion liters, according to the average of the analysts' responses to the survey. This would be a decrease of 3.9% on the year. Anhydrous ethanol output in H1 August was expected to be 860 million liters, or 6.7% lower year on year, according to the survey.