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National Research Reveals That Despite The Drop In Gasoline Prices, Refueling With Ethanol Is Only Financially Advantageous In Part Of Brazil, While In Other States, Consumers Continue To Spend More When Choosing Alcohol.
Refueling with ethanol in flex vehicles, in 2025, remains a common doubt among Brazilian drivers, especially amid recent fluctuations in fuel prices across the country.
A report published by the UOL portal showed that, according to a survey by Ticket Log, a company specialized in fleet management, only nine states and the Federal District offer a real financial advantage when opting for alcohol, while in the other 17 units of the Federation, gasoline continues to be the more economical choice.
The drop in gasoline prices, driven by the reduction announced by Petrobras in June 2025, resulted in a gradual pass-through to consumers.
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According to data recorded in the first half of July, the accumulated decrease was 0.47%.
This adjustment, however, was not reflected uniformly across states, as factors such as competition among gas stations and particularities in the distribution chain directly influence final prices.
Where Refueling With Ethanol Is More Advantageous
According to the Ticket Log Price Index (IPTL), ethanol is economically advantageous for refueling in Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Roraima, São Paulo, Tocantins, and the Federal District.
In these regions, the cost per kilometer driven with alcohol is lower or very close to that of gasoline, considering the average performance of flex cars — 8.5 km/l with ethanol and 11.5 km/l with gasoline.
In São Paulo, for example, the average price of ethanol is R$ 4.09 per liter, which represents a cost of R$ 0.48 per kilometer driven.
Meanwhile, the liter of gasoline reaches R$ 6.14, with a cost of R$ 0.53 per kilometer.
In Mato Grosso, ethanol costs around R$ 4.22 per liter, resulting in R$ 0.50 per km, while gasoline has a cost of R$ 0.57 per km driven.
In addition to the Federal District, Goiás offers attractive prices for ethanol, with an average price of R$ 4.38 per liter and a cost of R$ 0.52 per km, compared to R$ 6.35 for gasoline (R$ 0.55 per km).
In Paraná, the cost per km is practically equal, indicating that both alcohol and gasoline can be viable options, depending on promotions and specific variations at gas stations.
How To Calculate If Ethanol Is Worth It In 2025
The analysis takes into account the average price of the fuel and the performance of flex vehicles, which typically perform 30% worse when running on alcohol compared to gasoline.
Thus, ethanol is only financially advantageous when the price per liter is at least 30% lower than that of gasoline.
Ticket Log sets average consumption at 8.5 km/l for alcohol and 11.5 km/l for gasoline, although this average may vary depending on the vehicle model.
In the states of Acre, Federal District, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Roraima, São Paulo, and Tocantins, the price of ethanol in July 2025 remained competitive, resulting in lower or equivalent costs to gasoline in most cases.
In these regions, consumers who refuel with alcohol can save for each kilometer driven, especially for those who use their vehicles frequently.
Why Ethanol Is Not Worth It In Most States
In 17 Brazilian states, including Alagoas, Amapá, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceará, Espírito Santo, Maranhão, Pará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondônia, Santa Catarina, and Sergipe, the price of ethanol is above the level considered advantageous.
In these locations, the cost per kilometer driven with alcohol exceeds that of gasoline, making refueling with ethanol economically unfavorable.
In Amazonas, for example, the price of ethanol reaches R$ 5.48 per liter, representing a cost of R$ 0.64 per kilometer, while gasoline costs R$ 7.12 per liter, with R$ 0.62 per km driven.
In Rio Grande do Sul, the difference is even more significant: ethanol costs R$ 4.88 per liter (R$ 0.57 per km), while gasoline is at R$ 6.19 (R$ 0.54 per km).
What Influences The Difference In Regional Prices
According to fleet management specialists, logistical, tax factors, and the volume of local production are determinants for the competitiveness of ethanol.
States that concentrate sugarcane production, such as São Paulo, Mato Grosso, and Goiás, tend to have more attractive prices for alcohol.
In contrast, regions in the North and Northeast, further away from production hubs, face higher costs.
Tips To Avoid Mistakes When Refueling In 2025
It is essential for consumers to evaluate not only the price per liter at the pump but also the average performance of their vehicle with each fuel, in addition to monitoring weekly variations at local gas stations.
It is also advisable to consider the type of vehicle use, as urban routes, with more stops and starts, may result in lower performance than highway trips.
Refueling With Ethanol: When Is It Really Worth It?
In the national landscape of July 2025, the choice of ethanol is only financially advantageous in 9 states and the Federal District.
In other regions, gasoline remains the preferred choice, protecting the Brazilian driver’s wallet.
Beyond the numbers, the choice of ethanol carries a positive environmental weight, although the final decision needs to balance economy and sustainable consciousness.
Have you done the math before refueling? How has the price of fuel influenced your choices in 2025?
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