Another Tough Season Ends with High Hopes for the Next

The sugarcane crushing season has come to end with the Broadwater mill crushing the last of the 2023 crop.

The last bin was tipped at 3.45pm on Friday 3rd November, which took the annual crop for the Richmond River to 307,546 tonnes.

The Harwood sugar mill was the frst to fnish the year after crushing 404,799 tonnes of cane by 2.30am on Monday 23rd of October.

At Condong the mill fnished crushing for the season on Thursday 2nd November at 10:21am, having crushed a total of 398,760 tonnes.

The 2023 season has been another year of mixed emotions as the region continues to work through crop recovery and decreased sugar supply.

Whilst a lengthy dry period made for ideal harvesting conditions and encouraged higher than average CCS (sugar content) across all areas, it also created drier than ideal conditions for early planting.

The dry did delay planting of new crops for some growers keen to boost their production area and take advantage of the record high prices on offer. The rain that came in late October and early November, however, has provided a promising injection of moisture for both the ratoon crops and new plantings.

Sunshine Sugar CEO Mr Chris Connors said, “The positive outlook for sugar prices is playing a key role in sustaining the NSW sugar industry as it continues to rebuild from the food events of 2022.”

“Whilst the 2023 season was a short one, we were prepared for it and had put measures in place to safeguard and support our growers and our business. We did this by supplementing our

Marquis Macadamias’ Historic Entry into India Celebrated at Australian Macadamia Festival in Mumbai

raw sugar stocks with supply from Queensland to maintain production in our refnery, which in turn has enabled us to maintain sales to our domestic customers.”

Looking ahead, more crops are coming online as growers replant, and in some cases, expand their cropping area. As such, the three local sugar mills expect to see a much longer season next year as these new crops come online.

The NSW sugar indsutry has a track record spanning more than 150 years. The resilience demonstrated by local sugarcane growers and the industry as a whole continues to resonate across the Northern Rivers as increased production and higher prices see the industry go from strength to strength and demonstrate its ongoing capacity to generate jobs and income into the future.

Marquis Macadamias, a prominent name in the global macadamia industry, announces a historic achievement with its frst shipment of macadamias to India under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). The inaugural shipment arrived in India just in time for the Australian Macadamia Festival, held from September 30 to October 14 in Mumbai, where Marquis Macadamias played a pivotal role as a key supplier.

“We were delighted to be a supplier of the Australian Macadamia Festival”, stated Claudia Lordao, Marketing Manager at Marquis Macadamias. “We frmly believe this marks the beginning of an exciting journey in India.”

The Australian Macadamia Festival, organised by the Australian Macadamia Society, was a two-week culinary celebration that showcased the rich history, culture, and favours of Australian macadamias to the Indian audience. The event featured collaborations with skilled chefs from popular local restaurants, engaging Indian media, chefs, food bloggers, social media infuencers and trade partners. The immersive experience aimed to position Australian macadamias as a beloved and highly sought-after nut in the Indian market.

Funding for the Festival was provided under the Queensland Government’s Food and Fibre to Market: Industry Partnerships program, highlighting the importance of government support in promoting international trade.

“Our frst shipment of macadamia products is now gracing the shelves of select Indian stores. Witnessing the genuine interest and appreciation for our macadamias was truly special. Marquis is confdent that our small, nutrient-packed nuts will soon fnd a permanent place in the hearts and pantries of Indian consumers.”

“This milestone event marks a signifcant step in the Australian macadamia industry’s expansion into the Indian market and Marquis Macadamias looks forward to building a strong presence and establishing itself as a leading supplier of premium Australian macadamias in India”, conludes Mrs Lordao.

The Marquis Group is 100% grower-owned, processing over 34,000 tonnes per annum through Marquis Macadamias Australia and Marquis Macadamias Africa. Both regions are signifcantly ramping up capacity over the coming years.