EN 
PT_BR 
Known for many years as a second crop, corn planting in Mato Grosso began as an alternative to utilize land after the soybean harvest, and today it is no longer a second option. Like soybeans, corn has become one of the main crops sown in the state, with a production of 55.43 million tons in the 2024/25 harvest. Of this amount, more than 13.9 million tons were destined for the production of corn ethanol, making Mato Grosso the largest producer of corn biofuel. Ethanol gained prominence in the state with the arrival of plants in the main producing municipalities.
Mato Grosso produced more than 5.6 billion liters of ethanol, consolidating its position as the largest producer in Brazil. To drive the entire sector, biofuel production employs more than 147,000 people in Mato Grosso and generated more than R$ 833.6 million in Value Added Tax (ICMS) in 2025, according to data from the Mato Grosso State Finance Secretariat (Sefaz-MT). All these numbers demonstrate the importance of corn cultivation in Mato Grosso, which is reflected in the cities, as stated by the Western Vice-President of the Mato Grosso Soybean and Corn Producers Association (Aprosoja MT), Gilson Antunes de Melo.
Photo: Aprosoja MT
“Industrialization is the main driver of the economy; it sustains the entire state economy. So, when you increase industry, you are increasing the state's income, and this is reflected in the population with better health, better education, and better roads. Therefore, all the grain that is processed here generates added value, which strengthens the entire chain, not only agriculture but also society in general,” he said.
Gilson points out that with the advancement of ethanol production and the greater availability of the fuel on the market, the final price of the product may become more attractive to consumers. In addition to fuel, with DDG (Dried Distillers Grains), which is biomass destined for animal feed, the price of meat may also become more economical for the population, since the product is available year-round.
In addition to biofuel production, in 2025 the plants also produced 2.2 billion liters of biodiesel and 2.7 million tons of DDG. These byproducts are extracted during the ethanol manufacturing process, fully utilizing the raw material.
With the arrival of corn ethanol plants, demand for the grain has grown, and this pace is expected to increase in the coming years. Currently, there are 12 corn ethanol plants in operation, another 10 under construction, and five more being planned in Mato Grosso, as pointed out by the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea). The coordinating delegate of the Tapurah center, Daiane Kirnev, stated that this increase in demand encourages rural producers.
“There was an incentive for corn production, after all, with more markets for us to sell to and with slightly better prices, this ended up encouraging producers to increase corn planting. Before, it was uncertain because of the prices, and everything is supply and demand; when there is more demand, it ends up encouraging producers to plant much more so that they can cover production costs,” he stated.
Photo: Claudio Neves/Ports of Paraná
In addition to producing corn, farmer Romeu Ciochetta from Tangará da Serra also invests in the corn ethanol industry. He explained that the ethanol industries have brought more security to producers, allowing them to invest in corn and expand their workforce. With the industries closer, producers have reduced their concerns about grain distribution and are able to sell their grain year-round.
Ciochetta stated that the arrival of the market in Mato Grosso opened new opportunities for producers and entrepreneurs alike. The ethanol industry directly and indirectly drives a large chain of jobs and other industries.
"All of this is a large chain, and if we analyze the beginning of this operation, from the planting of the eucalyptus seedling, used to heat the boilers of the plants, to the meat being consumed or the ethanol in the vehicle's tank, it involves many people working, transporting, and all of this without cutting down a single tree, all of this without impacting the environment," he states.
Ciochetta also highlighted sustainable practices in the ethanol sector and stated that the future trend is green fuel, derived from renewable sources such as corn. Today, more than 201% of the ethanol used in Brazil already comes from corn, and with sustainable practices and concern for the future, this number should increase and the market open up new opportunities.
“The opportunities are countless, because the world is increasingly moving towards and wanting to consume green fuel. So, from aviation to smaller cars, it's a trend and I strongly believe in these opportunities. Therefore, Brazil is truly destined for success, I strongly believe in that and we will move forward,” he said.
With the growth of corn ethanol industries in Mato Grosso, the state, already a leader in corn production, is consolidating its position as the largest producer of corn ethanol in the country. All this economic growth fosters local production, representing more jobs and infrastructure for the interior of the state, reflecting the practices encouraged by Aprosoja MT.
