![Latest EU sugar production forecasts [World News]](https://foodcom.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Foodcom_World_News_Additives-1520x760.jpg "Latest EU sugar production forecasts [World News]")
- Independent associations predict an increase in sugar production in Europe.
- This is due to an increase in the area under sugar beet due to its high purchase price, as well as favourable weather conditions.
- Germany is expected to be one of the leaders in sugar production.
- The final prediction depends on the weather and economic conditions next season.
Sugar production expected to increase in Europe
The latest forecasts from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) predict that beet sugar production will increase by 4% in the European Union in the beginning of the 2024/2025 season. This conclusion was also reached by the European Commission, which revised its estimate upwards – by 2% since August. The reason is a 6% increase in sugar beet planted area in response to rising sugar prices. Production next season is expected to be 15.4 million tonnes of sugar in the European Union alone and 18.2 million tonnes including the UK.
The German sugar industry association WVZ predicts that in Germany alone, beet sugar production will increase to 4.95 million tonnes, up 17% on the previous season. The latest forecasts compared to September’s prediction of a 14% increase are therefore even more optimistic.
EU sugar consumption is expected to remain at 16.5 million tonnes, while exports are forecast to fall and imports to rise. Exports are forecast at 1.1 million tonnes and imports at 2.4 million tonnes, with Ukraine the main country supplying sugar to the EU.
Weather conditions and sugar forecasts
The dynamic weather situation this year is severely complicating the harvest and sowing of crops, and this also applies to sugar beet. Prolonged rainfall in Belgium, France and the Czech Republic has delayed sowing, while drought in other countries, such as Hungary, has affected the growing season and the yields received. In many countries, however, the weather has favoured beet growth – positive yield results are presented by Germany and Andalusia, for example. Favourable weather conditions have favoured an increase in the sugar content of beet – from 16.4% to as much as 17.1%.
The prediction of the possible harvest and production of beet sugar is therefore quite uncertain and dependent on the weather conditions next season, as well as on the price of beet – after a two-season price increase, a small possible decrease is foreseen.
