Nordzucker AG Expects Above-Average Sugar Yields in North Germany

08 Sep 2014 --- The 2014 campaign is nearly upon us: on 11 September the first three Nordzucker plants in North Germany will begin processing; by 15 September all of them will be up and running. Ideal sowing and growing conditions mean the yield expectations are above average.

On 11 September the plants in Clauen, Nordstemmen and Schladen will start the campaign. The plant in Uelzen will follow on 12 September, with Klein Wanzleben starting on 15 September. Dr Michael Gauß, Senior Vice President Production and Managing Director of the Central European region is expecting the campaign to last for about 130 days. “This year we are anticipating a long campaign that will continue into January. Our plants are ready for it. Steps to save energy and to protect the environment and improve product quality will help us to adapt even more closely to market demands.” The Nordstemmen plant began a short preliminary thick juice campaign on 8 September already and will therefore ramp up its processing gradually.

Excellent sowing conditions in March laid the groundwork for what was more or less an ideal vegetation phase for the beets. It thrived in outstanding conditions in almost all North and East German beet-growing areas, so Nordzucker believes that the harvest will be above average. Dr Michael Gauß explains, “The beet hasn’t been exposed to any extremes so far; it had enough sun and water at all times and, above all, an exceptionally long growing phase. This is confirmed by the results of our beet tests. We therefore expect yields to be well above the average of the past five years.”