Cristal Union announces higher sugar and ethanol production in 2025/26

After integrating a new refinery, and taking advantage of higher sugar beet yields this season, France's second largest sugar producer Cristal Union has produced 6.5% more sugar and 5% alcohol and ethanol.

The cooperative said it would produce 1.6 million metric tonnes of sugar from beets, and 2.1 millions hectolitres each of alcohol and bioethanol by 2025/26.

This compares to 1.5 million 'tons of sugar, and 2,000,000 hectolitres each of alcohol and bioethanol last season.

Cristal Union said that its average yield of beets rose to 90 tonnes per hectare with a sugar reference content of 16 percent, which is above the average for the past five years. This was due to favourable spring conditions and rainfall in July, according to a statement.

As producers attempt to reduce supply in the face of falling prices, they have seen a 7% increase in yields.

Analysts and European sugar producers expect that the area of sugar beets will fall between 5% to 9% by 2026/27, following recent price drops. Some producers are urging their members to further reduce plantings. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide. Mark Potter (Editing)

(source: Reuters)