Brazil flex-fuel sales hit monthly record in Oct

07 November 2007 21:21  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Brazil’s flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) sales in October hit an all-time high of 200,999 units, surpassing the monthly record set in August by more than 4,500 vehicles, industry association Anfavea said on Wednesday.

FFV sales are an important indicator of future ethanol consumption, as the vehicles can run on gasoline or stand-alone hydrous ethanol.

Brazil’s FFV sales in October surged by 51% from 133,263 units sold during the same time last year. Sales in October rose by 20% when compared with 167,409 vehicles sold in September, Anfavea said.

FFVs accounted for 86.5% of Brazil’s total auto sales in October, the association said. That figure compares with 86.3% in September and 79.9% in October 2006.

Brazil’s ethanol consumption was expected to have hit 1.5bn litres (396m gal) in October, eclipsing a previous 1.4bn litre record set in August. Consumption figures for October would likely be released by mid-November, one producer said.

Brazilian ethanol demand has increased by about 30% this year due to a drop in the price of the biofuel and booming sales in the FFV market.

By: William Lemos
+1 713 525 2653

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