11 min read

Sugar News - 06 Oct 2024

Sugar News - 06 Oct 2024
Americas

Argentina - Argentina'S Sugar Industry Targets $2 Billion With 10,000 Hectares Expansion
Brazil - Agroterenas To Reactivate Aurora Plant, Creating 650 Jobs
Brazil - Brazil Sugar Exports Reach Record 3.954 Million Tons In September
Brazil - Usinas Batatais And Cevasa Forecast 5.6 Million Tons Milling
Brazil - Irrigation Boosts Sugar Production By 15-60 Days Drying-Off
Mexico - Southern Qr Rejects Belize Sugar Smuggling Amid Price Gap
United States - Sugar Beet Yields Reach 20-40 Tons Per Acre In 2024

Asia

Bangladesh - Bttc Proposes Halving Regulatory Duty On Sugar Imports To 15%
China - China'S Sugar Production To Reach 11 Million Tons In 2024-25
India - Isma Conference Plans 65 New Sugar Mills For Sustainability
India - Lakhimpur Kheri Floods Damage 908 Hectares, Sugar Decline Ahead
India - Sugarcane Farmers Face Rs 3,000 Aid End And 40,000 Hectares
Indonesia - Rni Supplies 30,000 Tons Sugar As Global Prices Surge 10.4%
Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan Allocates 25.8 Billion Tenge For 120,000 Tons Sugar
Philippines - Sra Allocates P54M To 13 Negocc Block Farms
Philippines - Philippines Sugar Production Falls 96% To 5,645 Tons
Philippines - Philippine Sugar Production Drops 3.6% Amid 15% Yield Decline
Turkey - Harvesting Begins For 2.5 Billion Tl Sugar Beets In Muş
Turkey - Yozgat Sugar Beet Yield Down 20-30% Due To Delays
Turkey - Turkey'S Sugar Prices Rise To 34.34 Tl/Kg, Production Starts

World

World - Global Food Prices Rise 3% As Sugar Surges 10.4%

Europe

EU - Sugar Beet Prices Drop 30% To €28-€33.5 Per Ton
Portugal - Jpp Criticizes Government For Failing 10 Cents Support Promise
Russia - Russia Resumes Sugar Exports, Production Expected Over 6 Million Tons
Russia - Sugar Prices Up 20%, Confectionery Prices Rise 10%
Spain - Ibex 35 Falls 2.58% As Indefinite Sugar Strike Starts
Ukraine - Ukraine Sugar Exports Reach 700,000 Tonnes, Target 600,000 Tonnes

Africa

Malawi - Cdedi Urges Action Against Court'S $2.3 Million Freeze
Nigeria - Nigerian Diabetes Patients Demand 20% Tax Amid 11.2 Million Affected
Rwanda - Rwanda Imports 39.3 Mt Sugar From Uganda In 2023
South Africa - Hundreds Of Farmers Face Ruin Due To Sugar Levy

Oceania

Fiji - Labasa Cane Farmers Report Increased Production This Season

Americas

Argentina - Argentina'S Sugar Industry Targets $2 Billion With 10,000 Hectares Expansion
The Argentine sugar industry aims to emulate Brazil's model, targeting $2 billion in economic impact through new transgenic sugarcane resistant to drought and pests. Production expansion is planned with an increase of 10,000 hectares annually. The sector seeks to boost bioethanol output while advocating for a price increase to 720 pesos per liter to ensure profitability amid regulatory challenges.(Forbes Brasil)

Brazil - Agroterenas To Reactivate Aurora Plant, Creating 650 Jobs
Grupo Agroterenas plans to reactivate the Aurora plant in Anaurilândia, MS, in 2024, creating 650 jobs and investing over R$ 100 million for an annual production of 80,000 cubic meters of ethanol. BP Bunge increased seedling production by 22% to 3.4 million, while Raízen, Shell, and SENAI announced a R$ 120 million investment for a bioenergy center in Piracicaba, set to open in 2026.(Revista RPA NEWS | Revista RPAnews | PIRANOT | Revista RPA NEWS | JornalCana)

Brazil - Brazil Sugar Exports Reach Record 3.954 Million Tons In September
Brazil's sugar exports reached a record 3.954 million tons in September 2024, up 24% year-on-year, surpassing August's 3.921 million tons and the previous high of 3.951 million in October 2020. Beef exports also increased by 28% to 252,000 tons, while coffee exports rose 36.8%. Soybean and corn exports declined due to lower harvests.(La Estrella de Panamá | Terra | Revista RPA NEWS | SOU AGRO | Notícias Agrícolas | Dinheiro Rural)

Brazil - Usinas Batatais And Cevasa Forecast 5.6 Million Tons Milling
Usinas Batatais and Cevasa will begin the 2022/23 harvest on April 4 and 11, respectively, with a total milling forecast of 5.6 million tons of sugarcane. This is stable compared to last year's 5.6 million tons. Expected production includes 8.62 million sugar sacks and 188.43 million liters of ethanol. The harvest is set to conclude by mid-November.(Revista RPA NEWS)

Brazil - Irrigation Boosts Sugar Production By 15-60 Days Drying-Off
Irrigation, particularly drip irrigation, is being adopted by sugar producers in Brazil's Northeast to mitigate climate-related challenges and enhance sugarcane productivity. The technique known as "drying-off," which involves controlled irrigation interruption, can improve sugar yield and quality. Studies show that drying-off periods of 15 to 60 days can significantly boost sugar accumulation without reducing cane yield.(Jornal Dia a Dia)

Mexico - Southern Qr Rejects Belize Sugar Smuggling Amid Price Gap
In southern Quintana Roo, illegal sugar smuggling from Belize persists due to lower prices. A 50-kilogram sack of Belizean sugar costs 750 to 1,000 pesos, compared to 1,200 to 1,300 pesos for Mexican sugar. Local cane producers are concerned about unfair competition as Belizean sugar is sold at significantly lower prices, prompting calls for authorities to intervene.(Noticaribe Peninsular)

United States - Sugar Beet Yields Reach 20-40 Tons Per Acre In 2024
Sugar beet harvest is progressing well, with 2024 crop yields expected to be average to above average. In Minnesota, yields are reported at 20-30 tons per acre with 15% sugar content, while Idaho sees nearly 40 tons per acre and 18% sugar content. Farmers remain cautious as conditions may change before harvest concludes in November.(RFD-TV)

Asia

Bangladesh - Bttc Proposes Halving Regulatory Duty On Sugar Imports To 15%
The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) proposed reducing the regulatory duty on sugar imports from 30% to 15% to stabilize prices during Ramadan. Sugar prices rose globally, from $394 to $476.19, while local prices reached Tk 125-130 per kg. The annual demand is 2.0-2.2 million tonnes, met mostly by private mills, which refine imported raw sugar.(Finance News: Latest Financial News)

China - China'S Sugar Production To Reach 11 Million Tons In 2024-25
China's sugar production is projected to reach 11 million tons in 2024-25, according to the USDA. Recent surveys indicate that farmers are increasingly interested in cultivating sugarcane, which is typically classified as a cash crop.(ChiniMandi News)

India - Isma Conference Plans 65 New Sugar Mills For Sustainability
The 2nd India Sugar & Bio-Energy Conference, organized by ISMA in New Delhi, focused on sustainable growth in the sugar and bio-energy sectors. Key speakers included Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, who highlighted ethanol's role in reducing emissions and boosting rural employment. The event featured plans for 65 new sugar mills and a Centre of Excellence, emphasizing India's commitment to sustainability and innovation.(The Hans India)

India - Lakhimpur Kheri Floods Damage 908 Hectares, Sugar Decline Ahead
Recent floods in Lakhimpur Kheri have severely impacted sugarcane crops, damaging 908 hectares. The floods in July and September led to 20,321 hectares suffering 50-75% damage and 25,482 hectares facing 25-50% damage. These areas supply sugar to major mills, indicating a potential decline in sugar production and farmers' interest in sugarcane cultivation.(ChiniMandi News | ChiniMandi News)

India - Sugarcane Farmers Face Rs 3,000 Aid End And 40,000 Hectares
Sugarcane farmers in Sanguem face uncertainty as the five-year compensation period, ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 2,200 per tonne, ends. In Andhra Pradesh, sugarcane cultivation has dropped from 1.25 lakh hectares in 2014 to 40,000 hectares in 2024 due to high input costs and mill closures, prompting farmers to switch to crops like paddy and maize.(The Goan Everyday | The Times of India)

Indonesia - Rni Supplies 30,000 Tons Sugar As Global Prices Surge 10.4%
PT Rajawali Nusantara Indonesia (RNI) will supply 30,000 tons of sugar and 9,000 cattle for Ramadan and Lebaran, aiming for 160,000 tons of sugar this season, a 10% increase. Global sugar prices surged 10.4% to $0.45 per kg, while Indonesia faces a sugar deficit with production at 2 million tons against a need for 3 million tons.(Dinas Komunikasi dan Informatika Provinsi jawa Timur | kompas.id)

Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan Allocates 25.8 Billion Tenge For 120,000 Tons Sugar
The Kazakh government is allocating 25.8 billion tenge in subsidized loans to sugar factories and providing 40 tenge per kg to farmers for a projected 1.1 million tons of sugar beet, which will yield about 120,000 tons of sugar. Transport subsidies for farmers have increased from 25,000 to 45,000 tenge per ton.(Ак Жайык | Orda.kz)

Philippines - Sra Allocates P54M To 13 Negocc Block Farms
The Sugar Regulatory Administration allocated approximately P54 million to 13 block farms in Negros Occidental, including P25.35 million in cash and P28.6 million for tractors. This funding is part of the P1.4 billion from the 2023-2024 Sugar Industry Development Act for 261 organized block farms covering 10,600 hectares. Each farm receives P4.5 million to P5 million based on size.(Digicast Negros)

Philippines - Philippines Sugar Production Falls 96% To 5,645 Tons
Sugar production in the Philippines has plummeted by 96% to 5,645 tons in the first three weeks of the milling season, compared to 134,780 tons last year. Delays in harvesting and a 15% decline in sugarcane yield due to El Niño are key factors. The SRA plans to import 240,000 tons of refined sugar to ensure supply stability.(Philstar.com | Visayan Daily Star | ChiniMandi News | Digicast Negros | The Manila Times | Daily Guardian)

Philippines - Philippine Sugar Production Drops 3.6% Amid 15% Yield Decline
USDA forecasts a 3.6% decline in Philippine raw sugar production to 1.85 million metric tons for 2024-2025, contrasting with SRA's 1.78 million metric tons estimate. Current crop milling is poor, with only 112,908 bags produced, down 15%. In Q2 2024, Western Visayas sugarcane output plummeted 52.1% to 640,320 MT.(BusinessWorld Online | SunStar Philippines | Daily Guardian)

Turkey - Harvesting Begins For 2.5 Billion Tl Sugar Beets In Muş
Harvesting of sugar beets has begun in Muş Ovası, Turkey, covering 85,000 acres cultivated by 1,711 farmers. The expected economic contribution is 2.5 billion TL, with 56,000 tons of sugar projected to be produced. Daily, 12,000 tons of beets are processed, with a goal of processing 450,000 tons this year.(Gerçek Gündem)

Turkey - Yozgat Sugar Beet Yield Down 20-30% Due To Delays
In Yozgat, delayed sugar beet harvesting due to rainfall has caused a 20-30% yield decrease, with typical annual production at 1.85 million tons. Farmers are dissatisfied with the announced price of 2,230 lira per ton, below expectations. Wheat prices range from 10 to 12 lira, raising concerns about profitability for sugar beet farmers.(Haberler | Halk TV)

Turkey - Turkey'S Sugar Prices Rise To 34.34 Tl/Kg, Production Starts
Turkey's sugar prices increased to 34.34 TL/kg effective October 1, 2024. Bor Şeker A.Ş. commenced its sugar production season on October 3, 2024, aiming for full capacity to produce crystal white sugar, molasses, and fresh beet pulp. The company has launched the Beet Campaign to support its production goals for the 2024/2025 marketing year.(Yenigün Gazetesi | Rota Borsa | Gazete Banka)

World

World - Global Food Prices Rise 3% As Sugar Surges 10.4%
Global food prices rose by 3% in September 2024, the highest increase in 18 months, driven by a 10.4% surge in sugar prices due to drought in Brazil. The FAO Food Price Index reached 124.4 points, with vegetable oils up 4.6% and cereals rising 3%. Global cereal production for 2024 is forecast at 2.853 billion tonnes.(RFI | Rural Voice English | SWI swissinfo.ch em português | CNBC.ecom | Krishi Jagran | Gobernantes.com | Barron's | Puls Biznesu | DH Les Sports + | Notícias Agrícolas | El Financiero | Diario del Yaqui | www.24.kg | ISTOÉ DINHEIRO | Terre-net | O POVO)

Europe

EU - Sugar Beet Prices Drop 30% To €28-€33.5 Per Ton
Sugar beet prices have dropped 30% year-on-year, now ranging from €28 to €33.5 per ton for 16% sugar content. This decline in profitability, coupled with challenges like spring frosts and drought, raises concerns for the 2025 contract negotiations. Farmers are dissatisfied with proposed prices by Pfeifer&Langen, which are significantly lower than previous rates.(Farmer.pl | wiescirolnicze.pl)

Portugal - Jpp Criticizes Government For Failing 10 Cents Support Promise
JPP criticizes the Regional Government for failing to provide the promised 10 cents per kilogram support to sugarcane producers, pledged during the May 26 elections. Over five months later, farmers remain unpaid amid rising production costs. The party highlights the government's broken promises and misallocation of funds, leading to frustration among struggling producers.(JM Madeira | Funchal Notícias | jornaleconomico.sapo.pt | Diário de Notícias Madeira)

Russia - Russia Resumes Sugar Exports, Production Expected Over 6 Million Tons
Russia is resuming sugar exports after lifting a ban, with production expected to exceed 6 million tons this season. Shipments to foreign markets are estimated at 600,000 tons, potentially reaching 1 million tons due to accumulated stocks. Global sugar prices rose in September, driven by concerns over reduced supply, particularly from Brazil, which accounts for nearly 80% of sugar exports.(Агроинвестор)

Russia - Sugar Prices Up 20%, Confectionery Prices Rise 10%
Sugar prices have risen nearly 20% over the past year, reaching 108 rubles for a 900g pack, driven by a 20% decrease in yields due to adverse weather. Confectionery ingredients have increased by 15% to 50%, leading to a projected 10% rise in sweet product prices by January 2024.(Новости Ярославля – 76.ru | Новости Архангельска – 29.ru)

Spain - Ibex 35 Falls 2.58% As Indefinite Sugar Strike Starts
The Ibex 35 dropped 2.58% to 11,659.2 points, ending a three-week rise amid geopolitical tensions and monetary policy concerns. CCOO and UGT announced an indefinite strike in the sugar and yeast sectors starting mid-October, demanding a 10% recovery in purchasing power and opposing wage revisions and retirement bonus eliminations.(DCLM | infobae)

Ukraine - Ukraine Sugar Exports Reach 700,000 Tonnes, Target 600,000 Tonnes
Ukraine's sugar industry is poised for strong exports, with nearly 700,000 tonnes shipped last year and an expected 500,000 to 600,000 tonnes for the current marketing year. The market is expanding into the Mediterranean and North Africa. Profit margins have stabilized after two years of higher profits, aligning with global trends in the sugar and cereals markets.(ChiniMandi News)

Africa

Malawi - Cdedi Urges Action Against Court'S $2.3 Million Freeze
CDEDI has urged the government to challenge a High Court ruling freezing Salima Sugar Company's accounts, impacting its ability to provide affordable sugar amid rising prices. The court froze $2.3 million pending a legal dispute with Mukteshwar Sugar Mills. CDEDI calls for transparency and swift action to uphold justice and restore consumer confidence in the sugar market.(Nyasa Times)

Nigeria - Nigerian Diabetes Patients Demand 20% Tax Amid 11.2 Million Affected
The Nigerian Federal Government's proposal to suspend the N10 per litre Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax has sparked controversy. Diabetes patients demand a tax increase to 20% to combat rising diabetes rates. With 11.2 million Nigerians affected, experts argue the tax has not significantly reduced diabetes prevalence. Critics warn that suspension may worsen public health outcomes and economic stability.(Guardian Nigeria)

Rwanda - Rwanda Imports 39.3 Mt Sugar From Uganda In 2023
Rwanda has become the largest importer of Ugandan sugar in the East African Community, ordering 39.3 MT, or 35.3%, of Uganda's 111.1 MT exports in 2023. Kenya's imports dropped to only 18 MT due to policy issues. Uganda is shifting focus to value-added products like refined sugar and ethanol to stabilize trade relations. Sugar prices in Rwanda reached $1.47 per kilo in June.(The East African)

South Africa - Hundreds Of Farmers Face Ruin Due To Sugar Levy
Hundreds of small sugarcane farmers in KwaZulu-Natal are facing financial ruin due to cheap sugar imports and rising operational costs, exacerbated by a new government sugar levy. Zamokuhle Mzimela, a grower from Gingindlovu, highlights his struggles, stating the tax is the "final nail in the coffin," following mill closures and high fertilizer costs.(Sunday World)

Oceania

Fiji - Labasa Cane Farmers Report Increased Production This Season
Cane farmers in Labasa report increased production this season due to favorable weather and the strong performance of the Labasa FSC Mill. Despite challenges with labor and cane quality, farmers are encouraged to prioritize harvesting remaining cane. The Lautoka Mill will cease operations next Monday, followed by the Rarawai and Labasa Mills later this month.(FBC News)