Sales for the quarter increased 43% primarily due to increased production levels.
Ethanol sales for the quarter were based upon 74.6 million gallons this year versus 47.6 million gallons last year.
Ethanol price per gallon did decline from $1.39 in the prior year to $1.31 in the current year.
We reported a large increase in gross profit to $18.9 million in the third quarter for the ethanol and by-products segment versus a gross profit of $28,000 in the prior year.
Our crush spread between ethanol and corn was approximately $0.19 in the current year versus approximately a negative $0.04 in the prior year, primarily reflecting year over year lower corn pricing of 21%.
Our refined coal segment had a gross loss of $1.3 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2020 versus $1.6 million in the prior year based upon lower volumes.
These losses are offset by tax benefits of $1 million and $2.2 million for the third quarters of fiscal 2020 and 2019 respectively recorded from the Section 45 credits and the tax benefit from operating losses.
SG&A was similar for the third quarter at $4.3 million versus $4.1 million in the prior year.
We recorded income of $1.2 million from our unconsolidated equity investment in this year's third quarter versus a small loss of $15,000 in the prior year.
Interest and other income declined year-over-year from $1 million to $537,000, primarily due to lower interest rates on a cash and short-term investments as interest rates fell sharply during the current year.
We recorded a tax provision of $4.1 million for the third quarter of this year versus a benefit of $3.2 million in the prior year.
We had a tax expense in the current quarter based upon returning to profitable operations, reversing in the third quarter previously recorded federal benefit of losses at 35% for the current year as well as having lower run rates at the refined coal facility.
The above factors led to net income attributable to REX shareholders of $8.8 million or $1.44 per share in this year's third quarter versus the net loss of $2.1 million or a loss of $0.32 per share in the prior year.
The quarter -- on the quarter to date going forward, we so far are profitable, but crush spreads have deteriorated rapidly in the last 30 days, Zafar Rizvi, our CEO will discuss that further.
In terms of short-term cash on the balance sheet, we have approximately $202 million in short-term cash and short-term investment, -- excuse me, short-term investments and cash on the balance sheet, we have approximately $202 million.
We repurchased 316,349 shares.
And so far in fiscal 2020, we have authorization for another 33,512.
On the other hand, USDA corn report shows corn condition at the South Dakota are 79% excellent to good.
The corn crops for 2021 year is projected to yield approximately 14.5 billion bushels and expected to carry 1.7 billion bushels.
DDG export dropped approximately 111,000 [Phonetic] metric tons in the first nine month of 2020 compared to last year.
Export of dry distal grains through September 2020 totaled approximately 8.24 million metric tons compared to 8.3 million metric tons for the first nine month of 2019.
Ethanol export during this timeframe totaled 983 million gallons, 89% of last year's volume of 1.1 billion gallons during the same period.

Summary:
The above factors led to net income attributable to REX shareholders of $8.8 million or $1.44 per share in this year's third quarter versus the net loss of $2.1 million or a loss of $0.32 per share in the prior year.