11 February 2025

Beet campaign still in full swing – expected to finish in mid-February

High yields, good beet quality and very good processing levels at the sites – a very long campaign is drawing to a close. It will finish in mid-February.

Beet processing is running at a consistently high and stable level in all factories. The factories are performing well across all regions. This applies in particular to the German factories. Due to the four-week breakdown of the extraction tower in Schladen, the beet had to be distributed among the four other German Nordzucker sites at short notice. In Finland, the campaign was already completed before Christmas, the other European Nordzucker countries will follow suit by the end of January, and the campaign in the German plants is expected to end in mid-February.

Above-average yield – low sugar content

The beet yield is above average, but the sugar content is below the five-year average – and below the expectations. The cool and wet spring slowed down plant development. Although the summer brought a growth spurt, the lack of sunshine and high water uptake meant that the sugar could not be properly formed and stored. Even in autumn, the weather did not lead to a significant increase in the amount of sugar, but it did lead to an increase in yield.

Good beet quality

The quality of the beet has been good to very good across all regions to date. Nevertheless, there is still a residual risk if there should be significant changes in weather conditions in the remaining weeks. In order to protect the beet clamps in the event of prolonged severe frost, they should be covered with plastic sheeting in addition to beet fleece if necessary. Growers in Scandinavian countries have had good experiences with this method. Nordzucker provides the plastic sheeting of charge.