Photo from UNIAN
The decline in production was caused by a decrease in the processing of sugar beet, as well as its quality.
Ukrainian sugar refineries have completed the sugar production season, having produced 1.82 million tonnes of sugar since its launch on August 30, 2018, which is 15% down against last year's figure.
"In total, 42 sugar refineries were active this season. They processed 13.6 million tonnes of sugar beet, which was almost 10% less than last year. Sugar output fell by 15% due to the reduction in acreage and raw materials," Deputy Chair of the Board at the National Association of Sugar Producers of Ukraine (NASU) "Ukrtsukor," Ruslana Butylo, said on February 5, as reported by the Association's press service.
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However, she added that the said volume would be enough to satisfy the country's domestic needs and implement foreign economic contracts.
According to Butylo, another reason for this season's decline in sugar production was low quality of raw materials. Thus, in 2018, farmers managed to get a record yield of sugar beet, while its sugar content remained low at a mere 16.47%.
As reported, three regions were in the lead of sugar production in Ukraine over the period under review, namely Vinnytsia region (424,000 tonnes), Ternopil region (227,000 tonnes) and Poltava region (222,500 tonnes).
As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukrtsukor experts had revised downward the forecast for sugar production in the 2018-2019 marketing year (MY, September 2018-August 2019) from 2 million tonnes to 1.7 million tonnes.
Ukrainian enterprises during the sugar refining season of MY 2017-2018 boosted sugar production by 6.5%, to 2.14 million tonnes.