Sugar content in beets is increasing every week

Higher sugar levels were measured last week, particularly in beets grown on lighter soils in the east of the country. North Overijssel and the Achterhoek region are now producing beets with an average sugar content of 17,7% and 17,6%, respectively. The average for previous weeks in these areas was roughly one percentage point lower.

The peat and sandy soils in Drenthe also show an increase in sugar content, although the increase is less pronounced there than slightly further south. Last week, 17,3% sugar was measured in the Drenthe beets; the average in previous weeks was 16,9%.  

In the southeast and northwest, however, sugar levels remain low. Texel normally scores quite high, but that's not noticeable this year. Elsewhere in North Holland, Limburg, and parts of Brabant, the percentages remain stuck around 16,5%. The Kop van Noord-Holland region only achieved 16,2% last week.

Flevoland low in sugar
Flevoland also lags behind, with 17,1% of the sugar content in the Noordoostpolder and Eastern Flevoland. Southern Flevoland remains stuck at 16,7%.

With a national average of 17,4% sugar, beets remain quite sweet. This percentage is one percentage point higher than the 16,4% in the same week last year. Moreover, the yield is significantly higher. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) estimates the root weight this year at 90 tons per hectare. That's 15 tons more than in 2024. At 80.000 hectares, this means the industry will have significantly more beets to process.

High yield expectation
Beet processor Cosun Beet Company raised its sugar yield forecast to 15,5 tons per hectare based on initial results. The CBS yield estimate, combined with the average sugar content of 17,3% in the first seven weeks, confirms this estimate. If the upward trend in sugar content continues, the sugar yield per hectare could be somewhat higher.