3 July 2014
Australian Sugar Milling Council

Sugar mills that have started the 2014 crush settled into their stride last week processing more than 1 million tonnes in a week for the first time this season. This brought the season to date figure to 1.7 million tonnes representing just 5% of the estimated crop for Australia of 31.65 million tonnes.

Harvesting conditions were still not ideal in many districts with wet fields interrupting cane supply. All mills from Bundaberg North are now operating with the Isis Mill at Childers due to start on the 14th of July. The remaining two mills in Queensland at Maryborough and Rocky Point will not begin crushing operations until August with both areas having reduced crops because of drought conditions that prevailed through the
second half of 2013 and well into the peak growing periods in the early months of this year. The crush in New South Wales also commenced last week.

Sugar content is variable across the regions reflecting the wet conditions but overall the CCS averaged just under 12 units which is about normal for this time of year. The cooler conditions that have spread through most of the industry in the current week should ensure a sharp improvement in sugar content in the near term.
Australian Sugar Milling Council – 3 July 2014
For further information contact Dominic Nolan CEO – 07 32315000