Cosun expects sugar beet production to decline by about a quarter this year. This is because farmers had to deal with persistent drought throughout the summer. This means the company also forecasts reduced sugar production.
The drought has reduced the expected sugar yield to 14.0 tonnes per hectare, which is 0.5 tonnes lower than the July forecast. According to Cosun, other major European sugar‑growing regions, such as southern Germany and France, are also experiencing lower yields.
Cosun works with nearly 8,000 growers. From September to January, millions of tonnes of sugar beets are normally processed at its factories. This year, Cosun has opted to start the processing campaign later than usual. This is to allow more growth time for the beets.
The agricultural organisation LTO had already warned early last month that sugar beet cultivation was under pressure due to drought and extreme heat. Other crops, including grain and potatoes, are also heavily affected by the weather conditions.
@anp | NEWSBRAINPORT
