The Dutch sugar beets show a slightly higher sugar content, but one that remains below the multi-year average for October. The yields are now very ordinary. A small bonus is that the harvesting is generally fine.
The two factories of Cosun Beet Company, in Brabant and Groningen, are running at full speed and are processing more than 56.000 tons per day. The processor announced this in a news item. This means that the 2024/25 campaign is off to a smooth start. This has been different in recent years, when both locations were sometimes plagued by disruptions.
Distribution in levels
In the third campaign week (from 29 September to 5 October) the national average is 15,7% sugar. Almost the same as the week before. That is slightly higher than was achieved last year, but below the multi-year average. In the north of our country (Texel, Groningen) levels of 16% or more are reached. In the south (Achterhoek, Limburg) that is not even 15%, which has everything to do with the particularly late sowing time.
The tare content increased slightly, to 8,9% on average. That is quite low and not so strange, given the good harvesting conditions. Even on the heavy clay soil in Groningen, for example, the percentage is not above 8%. The recoverability index is at 90,2 almost the same as the weeks before.
catch crop
Cosun is calling on growers to sow a green manure crop after harvesting beets this month, where possible. Due to the extreme growing season, mineralisation can also take place while the beets have already been harvested. By sowing a green manure crop, this nitrogen can be utilised and leaching into the groundwater is prevented. The deadline for sowing sandy and loess soils was already set at the beginning of September expanded until 21 October. Those who sow later will face a nitrogen reduction in the following growing season. If you sow a rest crop, such as winter wheat, before 1 November, the reduction of a maximum of 20 kilos of nitrogen per hectare will not apply either.
Research institute IRS encounters leaf fungi such as cercospora and stemphylium in all regions. The institute advises to stop spraying plots. Research has shown that spraying is no longer profitable. In addition, lower temperatures inhibit the development of cercospora in particular.
IRS also reports that a lot of aphanomyces (root rot) is being observed on many light soils. This spring, this fungus already caused the loss of seedlings. Now it is causing deformation and rotting roots, which is caused by a combination of temperature and moisture. This costs something in sugar content and yield. If a batch contains more than 10% root rot, it will be rejected by the factory.
More turnover, less profit Südzucker
In addition to disappointing revenues, processors are also struggling with disappointing financial results. Südzucker recorded a turnover of €5,09 billion in the first half of the financial year (March to August). That is €100.000 more than in the same period last year, but net profit plummeted from €409 to €161 million. A drop of more than 60%.
The sugar division of the world's largest producer performed better in this period, with a turnover of €2,13 billion compared to €1,95 last year. More sugar was sold in particular, while prices were lower. The company is experiencing a lot of problems with cheap sugar from Ukraine on the European market. The operating result of the sugar division fell from €380 to €72 million. A decrease of 81%. In addition to lower sales prices, production costs also increased during the campaign of last season. Remarkably, the group remains positive about the current harvest. The excessive rainfall in Austria, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic caused damage, but the exact extent of this is still unknown.