Ukraine sowed some 209,000 hectares with sugar beet as of May 13, 2020, which is 5% less than in 2019, the National Association of Sugar Producers Ukrtsukor has said.
The association said in a statement on Friday that apart from a reduction in area under crops the season is also characterized by less favorable weather conditions, which, in turn, may significantly affect the crop yield.
“This year the sowing campaign was very complicated as snowless winter and the absence of precipitations caused a lack of moisture in soil. Hence, we have dust storms and dry wind. Then April drought changed with May rainfalls and freezing weather, while a part of crops was attacked by insects in Vinnytsia, Poltava and Khmelnytsky regions. All these factors may have a negative impact on growth of root crops, and as a result they will lose mass and sugar content,” Ukrtsukor analyst Nazar Mykhailovyn said.
Traditionally, the largest share of crops falls to Vinnytsia region – 23%, which is followed by Poltava region with 12.9% and Khmelnytsky region with 11.2%. Kyiv region ranked fourth with 10.8%.
As reported, sugar production in Ukraine in the 2019/2020 marketing year (MY, September-August) decreased by 19% compared to the previous MY, to 1.48 million tonnes. A total of 33 sugar refineries were operating during the season.
