Brazil Ethanol Sector Expands Beyond Sugarcane

Brazil's ethanol sector is expanding beyond its traditional dependence on sugarcane, driven by emerging technologies in agriculture, aviation, and maritime transport.

The industry is expected to see significant growth as manufacturers develop ethanol-powered tractors, sugarcane harvesters, and flex-fuel systems that can incorporate ethanol into diesel engines.

Brazil's production capacity will need to grow substantially to meet emerging demand, with corn-based production already accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the country's ethanol output this year, compared to about 25 per cent last year.

Henrique Berbert de Amorim Neto, president of the Local Productive Arrangement for Alcohol (APLA), said that agricultural machinery powered by ethanol could become a major source of new demand and that Brazil's experience with ethanol-powered vehicles dates back to 1975.