Brazil's 2011 fuel consumption rises by 3% in 2011

16 February 2012 22:59  [Source: ICIS news]

PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (ICIS)--Brazil's domestic fuel consumption rose to 121.482bn litres in 2011, up 3% year on year from 117.936bn litres, a government agency said on Thursday.

There was a 5.2% increase in the consumption of diesel fuels, which includes petroleum diesel, biodiesel blends and 100% biodiesel (B100), according to the Agencia Nacional de Petroleo, Gas Natural e Biocombustiveis (ANP), the Brazilian petroleum agency.

Consumption of diesel fuels reached 51.782bn litres in 2011, up from 49.239bn litres in 2010.

That total included 2.554bn litres of B100, which rose 5.3% from 2.425bn litres of B100 consumed in 2010.

Gasoline consumption, which includes anhydrous ethanol, reached 35.452bn litres in 2011, up 18.8% from 29.844bn litres consumed in 2010. Brazil blends anhydrous ethanol in gasoline at a mandated 20%.

Out of that total, anhydrous ethanol consumption was 8.383bn litres in 2011, up 18.3% from 7.088bn litres in 2010.

Consumption of hydrous ethanol reached 10.718bn litres in 2011, down 29% from 15.074bn litres consumed in 2010. Brazilian flexible fuel vehicles (FFV) can use hydrous ethanol as a standalone fuel.

The decline in hydrous-ethanol consumption came as Brazilian ethanol production likely dropped by nearly 20% in 2011.

The drop in ethanol production was caused by a decline in sugarcane production, which, in turn, was caused by bad weather.

The drop in ethanol production caused Brazil to import ethanol.

It also caused anhydrous ethanol prices to increase, which caused drivers to buy gasoline instead.

By: Leo Siqueira
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