Milling NSW – Sunshine Sugar
SECTION
7
MILLING AND MARKETING
S
UNSHINE Sugar is a partnership between the grower-owned NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative (formed in 1978) and the Australian family-owned business Manildra with each holding a 50 per cent share. It is the only 100 per cent Australian owned producer of raw and refined sugar products. Sunshine Sugar owns and operate sugar mills at Harwood, Broadwater and Condong and a refinery co-located at Harwood. Sugar production has been a major industry in the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed Valley’s for over 150 years, with the Harwood Mill being the longest running sugar mill in Australia, having commenced operation in 1874. Sunshine Sugar is the retail name used for the NSW sugar industry. This industry supports more than 500 farming families and over 1,000 direct and indirect employees. The farming footprint covers some 34,000 hectares with up to 2.4 million tonnes of cane grown and 275,000 tonnes of raw sugar produced each year. These operations contribute over 200 million dollars per annum to the Northern Rivers’ economy.
Sunshine Sugar CEO Chris Connors.
The Manildra Harwood sugar refinery The refinery commenced operations in 1988 when the grower-owned NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative Limited and family-owned Australian agribusiness Manildra Group joined forces to form a partnership to produce, distribute and market refined sugar products throughout Australia. The refinery, which is located alongside the Harwood Sugar Mill on the majestic Clarence River, produced its first refined sugar on 28 September 1989 and since then has produced over five million tonnes of refined sugar and related products. The refinery capacity is 260,000 tonnes per year. It is one of the largest employers in the area and is a major contributor to the economic and social prosperity of the region.
Located on Harwood Island, the Harwood sugar mill sits on the banks of the Clarence river and is the oldest continuously operating sugar mill in Australia and has been crushing cane since 1874.
Low GI Sugar sweetens Malaysian tastebuds Following initial enquiries made some eight months ago by Central Sugars Refinery based in Kuala Lumpur, significant tonnage of this allAustralian and Bonsucro certified sustainable product has already made its way to Malaysia with ongoing supply arrangements in place. Central Sugars Refinery (CSR) is one of Malaysia’s most popular brands providing
The Manildra Harwood Refinery is one of the largest employers in the area and is a major contributor to the economic and social prosperity of the region.
AUSTRALIAN SUGARCANE ANNUAL 2019 — 61
