U.S. Ethanol Groups Unimpressed by Brazil’s Action

Cindy Zimmerman

Brazil will allow another 150 million liters of U.S. ethanol imports into the country each year before charging a 20% import tariff, increasing the tariff rate quota (TRQ) to 750 million from 600 million liters per year, but U.S. trade and ethanol organizations are unimpressed. Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper says maintaining any protectionist trade barrier represents …

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, RFA, UNICA, USGC

UNICA: Ethanol Cut 300 Mil Tons of CO2

John Davis

Ethanol has cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 300 million over the last 12 years. Brazil’s sugarcane ethanol industry group UNICA says to get the same results from growing trees, it would be necessary to plant and maintain over 20 years more than 2.1 billion native plants. Hosted on the site ‘ Verde Ethanol ‘, the Carbonômetro indicates the …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, International, UNICA

UNICA Joins Global Renewable Fuels Alliance

Cindy Zimmerman

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) with its president Elizabeth Farin has become the newest member of the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA). “Brazil is truly a trailblazer in the global biofuels industry, not only as one of the world’s largest producers of biofuels, but one of the first,” said Bliss Baker, spokesperson for the GRFA. “As the largest ethanol …

biofuels, Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, UNICA

Brazilian Tariff on Imported Ethanol Increases

Cindy Zimmerman

The Brazilian government this week increased the tariff on imported ethanol from 9.25 percent to 11.75 percent, effective immediately. The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) issued a statement regarding the changes to Brazil’s tax policy signed into law by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Monday. Ethanol produced in Brazil is subject to a range of federal taxes with revenue allocated to …

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, UNICA

Brazil Ethanol Group Moves Summit Dates

John Davis

A group representing sugarcane ethanol producers in Brazil is rescheduling its biennial meeting. The Union of Sugar Cane Industry Association (UNICA) has moved its Ethanol Summit 2015 to July 6-7, 2015 at the Golden Hall of World Trade Center to accomodate Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who will be in Washington, D.C., on the original dates at the end of June. …

Ag group, Agribusiness, Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, UNICA

Platts Pre-Report Survey of Sugarcane Crush

Joanna Schroeder

In preparation for the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA)’s bi-monthly harvest data, Platts survey has announced that sugarcane crush volumes in the Key Center-South region of Brazil in the first half of April are expected to total 13.10 million mt with a focus on ethanol production. The wider range of analysts’ advance expectations for cane crush spanned from 10.2 million …

Brazil, Ethanol, Renewable Energy, UNICA

CARB Holds LCFS Workshop Update

Cindy Zimmerman

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) held a public workshop on Friday to discuss updates to the recently modified Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (CA-GREET 2.0) Model under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Stakeholder input was received at the workshop on the new model which made some changes to the Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) …

Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Indirect Land Use, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, RFA, UNICA

Green Seal Energy Cert Created

Joanna Schroeder

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) along with the Trade Chamber (CCEE) have created the Seal Green Energy certificate that confirms that company’s are using at least 20 percent of electricity produced from renewable sources. Green Seal Energy certification works with the Bioelectricity Certification Program that will allow the exchange of information between UNICA and CEEE is confirmation that the …

biomass, Electricity, UNICA

Brazilian Ethanol Summit Planned for June

Joanna Schroeder

The 5th annual Ethanol Summit 2015 will take place in the Golden Hall of the World Trade Center (WTC) in São Paulo on June 29-30, 2015. The event supported by the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) and will focus on renewable energy, especially ethanol, biomaterials and biochemicals that can be produced from sugarcane. There are more than 100 speakers in …

advanced biofuels, biochemicals, biomaterials, Ethanol, International, Renewable Energy, UNICA

Drought, Fires Hurting Sugarcane Harvest in Brazil

Joanna Schroeder

A severe drought has hit São Paulo, Brazil and has severely affected the production of sugarcane in the state. Estimates of the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) show the lose around 15 percent or almost 40 million tons of sugarcane. Another factor in crop loss has been accidental fires due to the dry conditions. This comes at a time when …

advanced biofuels, Brazil, Ethanol, UNICA