Mills in Brazils centre-south region produced 2.39 mln tn sugar during the first fortnight of July, down 23.3% from 3.11 mln tn in the year-ago period. Mills in the region, which accounts for more than 90% of the countrys total sugar output, crushed 44.88 mln tn of sugarcane during Jul 1-15, down 6.5% on year. During Apr 1-Jul 15, mills in the region crushed 267.42 mln tn of cane, up 8.1% on year. During the same period, they produced 12.14 mln tn sugar, down 14.5% on year. Sugar production in the region during the period was lower despite the rise in crushing because mills diverted more cane towards ethanol, whose prices are more attractive than sugars.