Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association Welcomes Ethanol Import Tariff Cut by Brazil's Government

SAO PAULO, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's announcement that the Brazilian government has unilaterally eliminated its tariff on imported ethanol is a major step forward in building a global biofuels marketplace, according to the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA).

"UNICA believes that free trade is a two way street and Brazil, as the largest producer of cane ethanol and largest exporter of ethanol in the world, with 60% of the global market, will lead by example and eliminate barriers to renewable, clean fuels. We hope this move will encourage other countries around the world to develop open, free markets for clean, efficient renewable fuels such as ethanol," said UNICA President & CEO Marcos Jank.

The Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) has announced the temporary reduction of the 20% tariff charged by Brazil on ethanol imports, effective as soon as it is published in the government's official daily record, which should happen in two to three days. According to CAMEX, the ethanol tariff will remain at the new level (zero) until the end of 2011.

UNICA has made it clear to the Brazilian government it hopes the tariff reduction is permanent, particularly should other countries, namely the United States, reduce their trade distorting tariffs on ethanol imports. Unless the U.S. Congress decides otherwise during the course of 2010, the current U.S. tariff on imported ethanol expires at the end of this year.

"The question now is whether the U.S., as the world's number-one ethanol producer, will follow suit. Consumers win when industries compete. Brazilian ethanol producers are willing to compete for consumers. What about American producers?" asked UNICA's Chief Representative for North America, Joel Valasco.

The United States imposes two duties on ethanol imports: a 2.5% ad valorem tariff plus an additional "other duty or charge" of US$0.1427 per liter (US$0.54 per gallon). According to data from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the combined duties have amounted to about a 30% tariff on ethanol imports, compared to the practically zero import duty applied to fossil fuels. Moreover, ITC's own analysis last year recognized that reducing the duty on ethanol imports would lead to a net gain for the U.S. that could reach US$356 million annually.

"The best way to cut energy costs and reduce global dependence on oil is to give consumers more choices and make providers of different energy sources compete in open markets," said Velasco. "Ethanol is an essential part of the energy mix for a growing number of countries, and that's why Brazil is taking this important step towards establishing ethanol as a freely traded, global commodity," he added.

As UNICA noted in a news release on January 26th, the current Brazilian tariff has never been an inhibiting factor for imports. However, the existence of this tariff is often criticized abroad, in the course of discussions to open up ethanol markets, especially in the United States. UNICA expects the elimination of the 20% Brazilian tariff, formally requested on October 30, 2009, to become an important ingredient in discussions to open markets and expand the use of fuel ethanol, transforming it into a global energy commodity.

ABOUT UNICA

The Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA) represents the top producers of sugar and ethanol in the country's South-Central region, especially the state of Sao Paulo, which accounts for about 50% of the country's sugarcane harvest and 60% of total ethanol production. UNICA develops position papers, statistics and specific research in support of Brazil's sugar, ethanol and bioelectricity sectors. In 2008, Brazil produced an estimated 565 million metric tons of sugarcane, which yielded 31.3 million tons of sugar and 25.7 billion liters (6.8 billion gallons) of ethanol, making it the number-one sugarcane grower and sugar producer in the world, and the second-largest ethanol producer on the planet, behind the United States.

SOURCE Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA)