Brazil's central‑south agriculture surges with ethanol output jump and corn harvest advance

Ethanol production in Mato Grosso do Sul rose 29.59% in the January‑May 2026 period, reaching 1.783 billion litres and moving the state to third place nationally behind São Paulo and Mato Grosso. National ethanol output grew 40.60% to 12.425 billion litres, driven largely by a 61.83% increase in anhydrous ethanol used for the mandatory gasoline blend.

In the same region, the second corn harvest progressed to 30% of the area by early May, up from 22% a week earlier. Faster progress was reported in Mato Grosso and Goiás thanks to reduced rainfall, although high grain moisture still limits quality.

Both developments reflect a broader acceleration in Brazil’s central‑south agribusiness sector during the first half of 2026.