The sugar beet campaign officially started today 13 September at Cosun Beet Company. This campaign requires an above-average beet yield due to the good growing season.
Today the two sugar factories in Dinteloord and Groningen started processing sugar beets again. Processing is expected to continue until January 24, making the beet campaign a total of nineteen weeks.
Top yield to process
With good yields and an area that has increased slightly to 83.500 hectares, Cosun Beet Company expects to produce a total of 6% more sugar than the five-year average. In total, the sugar producer estimates the average yield at 88 tons of beets with a sugar yield of 14,8 tons per hectare. The company calls it a good growing season until the drought took hold at the end of July. This has somewhat tempered the expected yield. Some plots have had a hard time due to the drought and heat. Depending on what will happen in the field in the coming months, this expectation may be adjusted.
The sugar producer also reports that it will transport more sugar beets to the sugar factory this year. A large part of the sugar beets in South Limburg must reach the sugar factory in Dinteloord by ship instead of truck. This year this will amount to 300.000 tons of sugar beets, about 20% more than last season. The company thus saves on freight traffic and CO2 emissions, it explains.