- July 23, 2020
- Posted by: BCCI-Editor-M
- Category: News & Press Releases
Northern Sugar Industry Closes Challenging Crop
Like many commodities, sugar is an unpredictable industry, and this year’s crop, is proof positive. After a banner crop last year, the northern sugar industry of Belize toiled tirelessly this year against a myriad of challenges to make it to the end of the 2019-2020 crop, which concluded on July 21, 2020. While production figures were well below recent results, this year’s harvest was a clear demonstration of the industry’s tenacity as it battled the ravages of the impact of last year’s drought on cane quality and supply combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, pests, and floods.
The grinding season started in mid-January due to the severe drought, cane production falling significantly to 893,662 MT compared to last year’s total of 1,317,626 MT of cane. Sugar production also fell to less than 88,000 in 189 days of milling compared to 156,646 MT of sugar produced over 214 days last year. In addition to the sizeable decline in cane supply, the drought affected cane quality as demonstrated by the tons of cane needed to produce tons of sugar (TC/TS) for this crop of approximately 10.20 compared to last year’s TC/TS of 8.41.
“This has been an extremely challenging year in every way possible,” said Country Manager Celestino Ruiz, “We struggled with cane supply and quality due largely to last year’s drought, mud, the COVID-19 pandemic, and an extended mill stop due to floods late in the season. The economic impact will be significant and much effort must still be expended to build resilience and a sustainable future at all levels of the industry.”
Cane Farmer Relations Manager, Olivia Avilez, said, “This has been an unprecedented year for cane production and harvest due to the challenges brought on by climate changes. We, as an industry, must continue to seek aggressively support to climate proof the industry against the effects of climate change. It requires unparalleled collaboration among our four cane farmers’ associations and their more than five thousand farmer members, the mill, Government bodies and all other industry stakeholders.”
ASR Vice President Mac McLachlan said, “The drought had a significant impact on production and the negative impact was far greater than expected. However, due to the strategic value-added investment projects by the company, which allowed the mill to produce more direct consumption sugar this year, will help offset some of the negative impacts. As an industry, we must continue to improve production efficiencies while expanding markets, especially in CARICOM.”
Belize Sugar Industries Ltd. (BSI) would like to thank all four farmers’ associations, its employees, and other industry stakeholders who worked steadily despite the many challenges to end the crop as smoothly as possible.
—–ENDS—
For further information, please contact:
William A. Neal
Email: william.neal@asr-group.com
Cell: 610-9774
