EU sugar production will decrease by almost 500 thousand tonnes — S&P Global Platts
S&P Global Platts Analytics forecasts total 2019-20 EU sugar production will be down 428,000 mt on the year at 17.502 million mt as a result of dry conditions early in the season and heavy rainfall late in the season, meaning beet yields did not offset a reduced planted area in the main producing countries of France and Germany.
It is reported by press-service of S&P Global Platts
However, in the UK, AB Sugar said the campaign was "entering its final stages and is progressing well".
British Sugar owner AB Sugar said Monday that higher beet yields would offset a drop in planted area in the UK and take 2019-20 (October-September) sugar production 3,000 mt higher on the year to 1.18 million mt.
The company, a unit of Associated British Foods, reported that in Spain, its beet sugar production "will be lower than last year at 210,000 mt" due to a lower area planted to beet in Northern regions but that this would be compensated for by an increase in the amount of raw-sugar refining.
Looking beyond Europe, AB Sugar said sugar production at Illovo, its African operations, is "expected to be some 1.7 million mt, broadly in line with last year, with production being limited by heavy rains."
In China, the company forecast its sugar production would be 24,000 mt lower on the year at 125,000 mt, but a better-quality beet crop, and a new payment system, "linking of some grower payments to the sugar content of their beet," is expected to deliver a reduced operating loss.