SECTION
7
MILLING AND MARKETING
Milling in the Australian sugar industry
A
USTRALIA’S sugarcane industry is one of the nation’s biggest rural industries and sugarcane is Queensland’s largest agricultural crop. The industry is primarily located along Australia’s eastern coastline, from Mossman in far north Queensland to Grafton in northern New South Wales. Over 4000 cane farms grow sugarcane on around 380,000 hectares annually. There are 24 mills, owned by 8 separate milling companies.
Major products The industry’s major product is raw crystal sugar, which is sold to refineries both domestically and abroad. Approximately 95 per cent of Australian raw sugar is produced in Queensland with the balance from Northern New South Wales. Up to 35 million tonnes of sugarcane is grown each year. Over a season, the sugarcane crop can produce up to 4.7 million tonnes of raw sugar, one million tonnes of molasses and 10 million tonnes of bagasse (a fibrous cane residue, which fuels boilers to co generate steam and electricity). Approximately 85 per cent of the raw sugar produced in Queensland is exported, generating up to $2 billion in export earnings for Queensland.
Green energy Sugar mills are almost self-sufficient in energy. By burning the fibrous cane residue, bagasse, they generate electricity and steam for factory operations. In addition, more than half of the renewable electricity generated (around 500 GWh) is exported to the electricity network. The use of renewable bagasse to produce ‘green’ biomass energy reduces the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 1.5 million tonnes annually.
Industry changes The Australian sugarcane industry has undergone significant rationalisation over the past decade. Several mills have closed and a number of growers have left the industry, resulting in an amalgamation of farming and harvesting operations. Changes to mill ownership has promoted greater efficiency of operations. The sugar industry directly employs about 4000 people across the growing, harvesting, milling and transport sectors, with a further 12,000 employed indirectly.
The Australian Sugar Milling Council – ASMC Established in 1987, the Australian Sugar Milling Council represents Australia’s raw sugar manufacturers and exporters. The ASMC members manufacture 90 per cent and collectively export over 50 per cent of Australia’s raw sugar. On their behalf, our aim is to be a leading voice for change to create opportunities for a more profitable and sustainable Australian sugar industry. 58 — AUSTRALIAN SUGARCANE ANNUAL 2019
