You're reading: Ukraine could reduce beet sugar production by 12% in 2012

Beet sugar production in Ukraine in the new agricultural year (September 2012 to August 2013) could fall by 12% compared to the present season, to some two million tonnes, according to the national sugar producers association Ukrtsukor.

A source in the association told Interfax-Ukraine that the forecast is based on data from the regions, which plan to sow 515,000 hectares with sugar beet this year, compared last year’s 544,000 hectares.

"With an average yield of 35 tonnes, it is anticipated that the sugar beet gross harvest will be 18 million tonnes, of which 16.6 million tonnes will be refined," the source said.

As reported, the gross sugar beet harvest last year was up 36.2% up thanks to a field expansion of 4.8% and an increase in the total crop of almost 30%, to 18.7 million tonnes.

Ukraine produced 2.33 million tonnes of sugar from 2011-harvest beet, compared to 1.54 million tonnes the year before.

The capacity of the domestic sugar market is evaluated at some 1.86 million tonnes per year.