Mumbai, May 7 (Commodities Control): Ukraine’s sugar industry is poised for a resurgence in 2024, as per the national sugar union Ukrtsukor. As per the reports, sugar producers in the country are gearing up to manufacture approximately 1.85 million tons of white sugar this year, with an anticipated exportable surplus reaching 950,000 tons for the 2024-25 season.
Once a sugar powerhouse during the Soviet era, Ukraine’s beet sugar production had reached its peak at 5 million metric tons. However, in recent years, challenges such as export impediments and competition with cane sugar have led to a notable decline in production output.
In a bid to revitalize the sector, Ukrainian farmers expanded the sugar beet sowing area to 250,000 hectares in 2023, resulting in a production output of 1.8 million tons of white beet sugar, up from 186,000 hectares in 2022.
Looking forward, Yana Kavushevska, acting head of Ukrtsukor, affirmed that the sugar beet sowing area for the upcoming season would remain constant at 250,000 hectares, projecting a production output of 1.85 million tons of sugar. With domestic consumption estimated at 900,000 tons, Ukraine is anticipating an exportable surplus of 950,000 tons for the 2024-25 marketing year.
The Ministry of Agriculture echoes this sentiment, expecting sugar output in 2024 to match the previous year’s level at 1.8 million tons, with exports forecasted to reach 900,000 tons.
Kavushevska underscored the significance of the European Union (EU) as a pivotal market for Ukrainian sugar exports, noting that approximately 493,000 tons were supplied to the EU in the 2023 calendar year. This emphasizes Ukraine’s strategic focus on maintaining and expanding its presence in the EU sugar market amidst its production rebound efforts.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-9820130172)