Danisco expects good sugar results

Given the past few months' favourable growing conditions, the harvest is expected to yield a sugar production slightly above Danisco's EU quotas in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Lithuania of a total of 1,142,000 tonnes

18/08/05 Danisco has reported that in the past few months, growing conditions in all of its production countries have offered strong potential for the growth of sugar beets up to the September-December harvesting period.

However, with beet fields having been reduced in all production countries in recent years, sugar production in a normal year will equal the quota level. Given the past few months' favourable growing conditions, the harvest is expected to yield a sugar production slightly above Danisco's EU quotas in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Lithuania of a total of 1,142,000 tonnes. The forecast is based on normal weather conditions in the remainder of the growing period.

In Denmark, the beets were sown around 1 April and the germination was impacted by the cold and dry weather in April. Subsequently, growing conditions have been satisfactory with a warm period at the beginning of the summer and sufficient rain. In Sweden, germination was likewise characterised by a cold and dry spring followed by favourable growing conditions in most areas.

In Germany, the beets are well developed overall despite part of the area being exposed to frost at the beginning of the growing season. In Finland, the beets were sown a week before usual and the growing period has been normal. Provided that the normal growing conditions continue, sugar production in the four countries is likely to end up slightly above the EU quota. In Lithuania, the beets have developed well and the positive development in beet growing efficiency and the structural development continue. This means that the production is expected to be somewhat larger than the sugar quota here too.