Nordzucker Post 01/2022 - 10 February 2022
Nordzucker has successfully concluded the 2021/22 campaign
Overall, the campaign went well at all production sites. Some of the yields are well above average. Corona infection chains were largely prevented at the factories.
Sugar production from sugar beet has been successfully completed in all factories. The campaign was completed in Finland and Lithuania before the end of the year, in Poland and Slovakia in the first decade of January and in Germany and Denmark in mid to late January. On average for all factories the campaign will last 122 days (previous year: 118 days). In Germany, Denmark and Lithuania, 184,000 (160,400) tonnes of organic beet were also processed into organic sugar again in the first days of the campaign.
In total, over 17 (16.6) million tonnes of sugar beet were processed. As in other sectors of the economy, there were supply bottlenecks and cost increases for auxiliary materials and energy. In addition, there were logistical bottlenecks, at times also in sugar beet, which were quickly resolved thanks to the initiative of all those involved. “The campaign duration documents the efficiency and optimal utilisation of the factories. These challenges were solved through the good interaction of all company divisions from agriculture, purchasing, production and logistics to sales and marketing “, is how Axel Aumüller COO assesses the campaign. “We can be satisfied with the course and result at all locations in Europe and Australia.”
High yields and good prices for sugar beet
Sufficient and well-distributed rainfall during the summer in almost all European growing regions resulted in above-average beet yields of an assumed 72.1 (69.5) tonnes of sugar beet per hectare with a sugar content of 17.7 (17.7) per cent. This corresponds to a sugar yield per hectare of 12.8 (12.3) tonnes. Germany even achieved one of the highest sugar yields ever, with an average of almost 80 (74.4) tonnes of beet per hectare (73 tonnes in the 5-year average) and a sugar content of about 18 (18.3) per cent, at 14.2 (13.6) tonnes of sugar per hectare.
In addition to the good yields, higher sugar prices will have a positive impact on the beet prices of the contracts with a variable price model. “The variable sugar beet contracts with our growers will achieve the best prices since the end of the sugar market regime and noticeably higher prices than in the fixed price model,” emphasises Dr Lars Gorissen, CEO. “The competitiveness and attractive role of sugar beet in arable crop rotation is thus confirmed.”
Critical infrastructure: Corona infection chains could be prevented
Comprehensive hygiene concepts and protective measures against the Corona virus were also necessary in the 2021/22 campaign. Axel Aumüller, COO: “The measures taken, and the disciplined behaviour and consistent actions of all employees prevented infection chains in the plants and administration. This enabled the campaign to be ended safely. Nordzucker belongs to the “critical infrastructure”. This means we have a special responsibility to supply the population with sugar as a foodstuff. Thanks to the commitment of our employees, this has once again worked excellently”.
