Australia: Sugar Annual
Post forecasts Australian sugar production to decline to 4.8 million MT in 2017/18 after a tropical cyclone hit northern Queensland in late March 2017. This represents a fall of six percent compared to the previous year. Production had been expected to increase, as the area of production for sugar cane is forecast at 410,000 hectares in 2017/18 in response to higher world prices. Exports of sugar are forecast at 3.7 million MT in 2017/18 due to lower production. Post notes the full impact of the cyclone is still unknown. In addition, an ongoing dispute between cane growers and the major miller could affect the timing of the harvest and sugar processing.
