Australian Sugar Milling Council forecasts strong crush return with current crop

Total sugarcane crush tonnages are expected to rebound this year but still fall short of total capacity across all Queensland operations.

The Mackay and Proserpine regions are tipped to crush the second highest crop this year as the sector rebounds from lower totals in previous years.

The Mackay and Whitsunday sugarcane crop is expected to produce 8.24 million tonnes amid an improved outlook for the sector that still falls short of total capacity.

Australian Sugar Milling Council CEO David Pietsch said the total forecast sugarcane tonnage this year was 29.96 million tonnes, which was on track to surpass the 2020 crush of 29.33 million tonnes.

But it still fell short of the Queensland milling sector’s crushing capacity of about 35 million tonnes.

“In February, ASMC was sceptical about the prospects for the 2021 crop to be bigger than 2020 with variable seasonal conditions, but we are now confident the crop will beat the 2020 and 2019 seasons and finish closer to 30 million tonnes,” he said.

“The improved crop signals somewhat of a recovery in industry confidence and highlights the ongoing importance of work across the sugar industry to improve productivity and continually drive efficiency through the production chain.

The Australian Sugar Milling Council is forecasting a strong return to high crush totals.

“The 2021 crop forecast is good news for farmers, harvesters, transporters, suppliers, and for our sugar mill employees crushing the cane and manufacturing the sugar.”

The Mackay and Proserpine region’s forecast crush at 8.24 million tonnes was the second highest in the state behind the Herbert and Burdekin region on 12.35 million tonnes.

The northern region including the Tableland, Mossman, Mulgrave, South Johnstone and Tully mill areas was the third strongest on 6.72 million tonnes, and the southern region including Bundaberg, Isis and Rick Point mill areas forecast to mill 2.65 million tonnes.

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Mr Pietsch said the expected crop result had overcome strong headwinds and the crush would be the first in more than 125 years that neither the Bingera mill at Bundaberg or Maryborough mill would be operating.

“Like other Queensland industries and businesses, the sugar industry had had to contend with the impact of COVID-19 on its local production and global markets,” he said.

“However, the sugar industry has hung tough and our relative stability now comes at a time of great uncertainty around sugar production among other global producers such as Brazil, India and Thailand.”

Originally published as Australian Sugar Milling Council forecasts strong crush return with current crop