AGRANA successfully concludes 2021|22 sugar beet processing campaign
Date: 11.02.2022Following the conclusion of beet processing at its Tulln site (Lower Austria) on 9 February, AGRANA has successfully completed the 2021|22 sugar beet campaign at all seven of its beet sugar processing plants in Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania.
Based on an average processing period of 112 days, 5.7 million tonnes (prior year: 4.8 million tonnes) of sugar beet were processed to make around 850,000 tonnes (prior year: 650,000 tonnes) of sugar. The average yield per hectare, based on a total planted area of 85,700 hectares, was around 67 tonnes, equivalent to five tonnes more than in the prior year.
In Austria, an area of around 37,850 hectares was harvested to produce 455,000 tonnes of sugar - including 16,000 tonnes of organic sugar - from approximately 3.0 million tonnes of sugar beet (prior year: 2.1 million tonnes). The average yield per hectare in Austria rose to 80 tonnes (prior year: 79 tonnes). The favourable weather conditions last year had a positive impact on sugar beet quality. A dry and warm June was followed by moderate temperatures and frequent rain. The mild September and dry October, accompanied by cooler night-time temperatures at the start of the harvesting season, led to a significant increase in the sugar content to 17.2% (prior year: 15.4%). The average sugar content in all AGRANA countries was also 17.2% (prior year: 15.1%).
AGRANA CEO Markus Mühleisen: “We are delighted about the excellent quality of the sugar beet and the positive development in terms of hectare yields. Our contract farmers also benefit from significantly higher sugar beet revenues. This is not only due to the higher sugar content but also a result of the increased market price and the higher minimum price for beet agreed with the beet farmers. In light of the favourable market forecast, we call upon all farmers who have not yet concluded contracts to take advantage of the option available until March and to commit their beet fields for sowing in spring.”