IKAR in Mass and Industry Media

Russia sets new record for sugar production in October

Interfax

MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) - Russia set a new monthly record for sugar output in October by producing one million tonnes, Agrarian Market Affairs Institute (IKAR) analyst Yevgeny Ivanov told Interfax. The record-level of production resulted from an increase in the efficiency of sugar beet production, which has been seen for eight years in a row, an increase in the yield and sugar content of sugar beets and a reduction in losses during all stages of harvesting and processing work, he said. In addition, upgrades have been carried out at a number of sugar plants in recent years that have resulted in an increase in capacity to process sugar beets and a drop in losses. An almost 24% increase in the area planted with sugar beets to more than one million hectares also contributed to the record production levels, he said. The Russian Sugar Union said 76 of 80 sugar plants were still processing sugar beets as of November 1 compared to 60 of 78 plants in 2005. Relatively favorable weather conditions will allow for harvesting the remaining 15% of crops and increase sugar production from sugar beets to a record 3 million tonnes in the current agricultural year as previously forecasted, Ivanov said. Sugar beet processing could continue at some plants until March 2007, he said. Russia produced 2.5 million tonnes of sugar from sugar beets in 2005, also a record-high. "A slight drop in wholesale sugar prices, which have fallen by more than 30% since mid-July following a minor correction in October, is overshadowing the positive situation for producers," he said.

08.11.06

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