Brazilian biofuel production hit historic high in 2023

In Brazil, Brazil’s biofuel production reached a historical record in 2023, with robust growth and diversification of the country’s renewable energy sources. Ethanol and biodiesel production totaled almost 43 billion liters, reaching a historical record. The Brazilian Statistical Yearbook on Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels 2024 (Anuário Estatístico Brasileiro do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis 2024), published by the Brazilian Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels National Agency (Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis/ANP).

Among the study’s highlights, ethanol production rose by 15.5%, totaling 35.4 billion liters. The production of anhydrous ethanol, which is mixed with gasoline for sale to consumers, has risen by 13.5% compared to last year, while hydrated Ethanol, sold pure at the pumps, increased by 16.8% over the same period. Brazil’s Southern region led the national production of ethanol, with a volume of 17.2 billion liters, or 48.5% of total Brazilian production. Significant increases also took place in the Northern, Southern and Central-West regions.

National biodiesel production reached more than 7.5 billion liters. Demand was boosted by an increase, starting on April 1, 2023, in the percentage of biodiesel that is blended with diesel to 12%. The Southern region was the largest producer, with 3.1 billion liters, followed by the Central-West region, with 3 billion. Production also rose for biomethane, another important biofuel: in 2023, production reached 74.9 million m3, an increase of 12.3% compared to the previous year.