The Nordzucker Group has almost reached the end of the 2016/2017 beet campaign, saying that it has recorded above-average sugar yields. The 13 plants were operating for an average of 104 days, a figure that was once again higher than in the previous year.

In total, Nordzucker processed some 15 million tonnes of beet in its 13 plants (previous year: 12.5 million tonnes). With most other plants having already ended the campaign in the past few days, those in Uelzen (Germany), Örtofta (Sweden) and Opalenica (Poland) will be following suit in the days ahead. At just one plant, Trenčianska Teplá in Slovakia, the campaign will run until 22 January 2017 following a record harvest.

“We have conducted an overall stable campaign at our plants this year. only at the beginning of it did some of our plants have to deal with a greater proportion of weeds,” said Axel Aumüller, Chief Operating Officer. “First and foremost, this is the result of continuous investment in our sites and our targeted and centrally managed maintenance efforts. All this is necessary to continue producing in a competitive manner and in line with market requirements.”

Looking ahead to 2017, Aumüller notes that the year will herald a sea change due to the abolition of sugar quotas and minimum beet prices in the EU.

This year’s sugar yield is above the long-term average in all of the countries in which the group operates, with particularly outstanding results achieved in some growing regions, the company said, noting that Slovakia stands out particularly strongly this year.

“We had overall favourable weather, which was extremely conducive to the growth of the beet. The good result, however, is also due to our cultivation advice and close working relationship with the farmers,” said Dr Lars Gorissen, Chief Agricultural Officer. “We are moving in the right direction and will increase our yields further; our beet will stay competitive in the future.”