CerradinhoBio

What CerradinhoBio does

CerradinhoBio is a privately held Brazilian bioenergy company headquartered in Campinas and operating primarily out of Chapadão do Céu, Goiás. It processes sugarcane and corn into hydrated ethanol, biomass-cogenerated electricity, and corn-derived co-products (DDGS marketed as Neo30, and corn oil), and is positioned as the largest ethanol production complex in Brazil and Latin America with consolidated capacity of 730 million liters of ethanol and 1,300 GWh of total electricity generation per harvest. The corn-processing operations are housed in the wholly owned Neomille subsidiary, established with a R$280 million investment and processing approximately 580,000 tons of corn annually. The company's principal industrial site is the Porto das Águas plant in Goiás, with rail logistics handled through the CerradinhoLog transshipment terminal in Chapadão do Sul and a separate CerradinhoTerra entity managing agricultural land.

The company's technology base is industrial biotechnology and process engineering rather than software: sugarcane and corn fermentation are paired with biomass cogeneration that uses sugarcane bagasse plus alternative feedstocks (eucalyptus chips, sweet sorghum, brachiaria grass), and the company cites zero-residue corn processing. Electricity is sold through bilateral contracts at R$260/MW and via Brazil's regulated energy market, while ethanol is shipped via the company's own 1 billion liter/year rail terminal to distribution hubs such as Paulínia. The proprietary technology pillars are: corn ethanol production (Neomille), multi-feedstock biomass cogeneration up to 160 MW and 850 GWh per harvest, and zero-residue corn processing for DDGS and corn oil co-products.

Revenue flows from three streams on a B2B sales-led go-to-market: sugarcane and corn ethanol sold to fuel distribution companies for blending and direct use; electricity sold to energy trading companies under bilateral contracts and through the regulated market; and DDGS (Neo30) protein feed and corn oil sold to livestock and poultry producers in Center-South and Southeast Brazil. Pricing on electricity is partially disclosed (R$260/MW bilateral), while ethanol and feed pricing is not publicly transparent. CerradinhoBio reports a revenue target of R$880 million for the current harvest (up 8.5% from R$811 million previously) and an EBITDA target of R$440 million, with electricity's share of revenue projected to rise from 9% to 12.8%. Ownership sits with the founding Sanches Fernandes family through Cerradinho Participações S.A. (CerradinhoPar), with Paulo Motta serving as CEO.

Name

CerradinhoBio

Legal name

CerradinhoBio

Website

https://cerradinho.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

CerradinhoBio is a privately held Brazilian bioenergy company that processes sugarcane and corn into ethanol, biomass-cogenerated electricity, DDGS animal feed, and corn oil, operating the largest ethanol production complex in Brazil and Latin America and serving B2B energy, fuel distribution, and livestock feed customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biofuels and Renewable Energy

NAICS

Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing (325193), Biomass Electric Power Generation (221117), Sugarcane Farming (111930)

SIC

Grain Mill Products (2040), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Grain & Sugar-Based Ethanol Production (EUAAAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agricultural Residues & Energy Crops Biomass Power (Stover, Bagasse, Pellets) (EUACAIAF), Biofuel Co-products & Byproduct Processing (DDGS, Glycerin, CO2, Lignin) (EUAAAHAJ), Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD), Sugarcane Farming (AFAGAEAA)

Keywords

• Sugarcane ethanol production
• Biomass cogeneration energy
• Corn ethanol processing
• DDGS animal feed
• Renewable biofuel manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Catanduva

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ethanol Sales: Revenue from producing and selling sugarcane ethanol and corn ethanol (hydrated ethanol). The company expanded production capacity with R$280 million investment in corn ethanol plant adding 245 million liters annually.
2. Electricity Cogeneration: Revenue from selling electricity generated through cogeneration using biomass. Capacity doubled to 160 MW average with ability to sell up to 850 GWh per harvest. Sales through bilateral contracts at R$260/MW and regulated market.
3. Animal Feed (DDGS): Revenue from selling dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), a protein-rich animal feed product marketed as Neo30, produced from corn processing.
4. Corn Oil: Revenue from selling corn oil, a byproduct of corn ethanol production at approximately 7,000 tons annually.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

CerradinhoBio is a vertically integrated Brazilian bioenergy producer that converts sugarcane and corn into hydrated ethanol, renewable electricity (via biomass cogeneration), DDGS animal feed (Neo30), and corn oil. Its sugarcane plant is in Chapadão do Céu (Goiás) and its corn processing unit (Neomille) is co-located, forming the largest ethanol production complex in Latin America with 730 million liters of ethanol and 1,300 GWh of energy capacity annually. Products are sold B2B to fuel distributors, energy trading companies, and livestock producers.

Product overview

CerradinhoBio operates as a diversified bioenergy company with two main production platforms: sugarcane processing (CerradinhoBio) and corn processing (Neomille subsidiary). The company produces ethanol (clean renewable fuel), generates renewable electricity through biomass cogeneration, and manufactures animal feed components (DDGS, corn oil). Combined, the sugarcane and corn plants form the largest ethanol production complex in Brazil with capacity to produce 730 million liters of ethanol and generate 1,300 GWh of energy annually. Neomille subsidiary handles corn processing producing hydrated ethanol, DDGS (marketed as Neo30), and corn oil from approximately 580,000 tons of corn per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Neo30: DDGS (Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles) product for animal nutrition, leveraging the protein value of corn

Products and services

• Hydrated Ethanol Clean and renewable biofuel produced from sugarcane and corn. Consolidated annual production capacity of 730 million liters, with 245 million liters from corn alone via the Neomille unit. Sold to fuel distribution companies for automotive and industrial use.
• Energy Cogeneration (Renewable Electricity) Renewable electricity produced from biomass cogeneration using sugarcane bagasse and alternative biomasses (eucalyptus chips, sweet sorghum, brachiaria grass). Average installed capacity of 160 MW, capable of selling up to 850 GWh per harvest. Sold through bilateral contracts (R$260/MW) and the regulated market.
• Neo30 (DDGS - Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles) Dry protein-rich animal nutrition product derived from corn processing at the Neomille plant. Annual production of 175,000 tons. Available year-round, providing regular and continuous supply to livestock and poultry producers in Center-South and Southeast Brazil without need for large stockpiling.
• Corn Oil Oil extracted as a byproduct of corn processing at the Neomille plant. Annual production of approximately 7,000 tons, sold as a co-product of corn ethanol manufacturing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue of R$ 880 million projected for current harvest, up 8.5% from R$ 811 million
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• NeomillecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Neomille is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CerradinhoBio responsible for corn processing operations. Established to manage the R$ 280 million investment in a corn ethanol and animal feed production unit adjacent to the sugarcane industrial park in Chapadão do Céu, GO.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Raízen: Joint venture between Cosan and Shell, Raízen is Brazil's largest sugarcane ethanol producer with over 30 mills and extensive fuel distribution via Shell stations. Directly comparable as integrated sugarcane-to-ethanol-and-energy producer serving similar fuel distributors and energy markets.
• São Martinho: One of Brazil's largest sugarcane processors operating multiple mills with significant ethanol and sugar production plus cogeneration. Comparable business model with vertically integrated sugarcane processing and energy export to the Brazilian grid.
• Atvos: Brazilian ethanol producer operating multiple sugarcane mills across the Center-South region with cogeneration capabilities. Directly comparable as a pure-play Brazilian sugar-energy producer competing for the same fuel distribution customers.
• Biosev (Louis Dreyfus): Subsidiary of Louis Dreyfus Company operating numerous sugarcane mills in Brazil producing ethanol, sugar, and electricity. Comparable scale player in Brazilian sugar-energy space with similar cogeneration infrastructure.
• Tereos: French-Brazilian cooperative with significant sugarcane processing operations in Brazil producing ethanol, sugar, and electricity. Comparable multi-feedstock biofuel producer with cogeneration and corn ethanol exposure.
• Usina Coruripe: Brazilian sugar and ethanol producer operating mills across Minas Gerais, Goiás, and Mato Grosso do Sul with cogeneration. Comparable regional competitor with overlapping feedstock and ethanol output.
• Adecoagro: Latin American agricultural company with substantial sugarcane, ethanol, and energy operations in Brazil. Comparable diversified producer combining farming, processing, and cogeneration across multiple geographies.

Broad incumbents

• Cosan: Brazilian conglomerate controlling Raízen and Rumo with interests across biofuels, logistics, and energy. Comparable as parent of largest direct competitor and overlapping distribution/logistics interests via rail terminal operations.
• Bunge: Global agribusiness with significant Brazilian sugar/ethanol operations and grain origination. Comparable exposure to Brazilian corn and sugarcane value chains, though operates across broader commodity spectrum.
• bp Bioenergy: BP's Brazilian biofuels subsidiary operating sugarcane mills producing ethanol and biogas. Comparable international-major-backed ethanol producer with similar cogeneration and renewable fuel focus in Brazil.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cerradinho.bio

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CerradinhoBio