FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE
U.S. MISSION TO THE EUROPEAN UNION

Last update:  April 25, 2008

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Sugar Annual Report 2008 (April 2008)

The reformed sugar regime which came into effect on July 1, 2006 results in a cut in sugar prices by 36 percent over four years with a voluntary restructuring scheme aimed at reducing production by 6 million MT over that period. Withdrawals to date amount to 4.84 million MT. Total sugar production is forecast to fall by 5.2 percent in MY 2008/09. Imports are expected to decline by 8.1 percent with exports remaining stable at the WTO agreed level of 1.3 million MT. Human consumption should remain stable in MY 2008/09 and other consumption including bioethanol is expected to reach 1.8 million MT.

GAIN report E48042

Sugar Annual Report 2007 (April 2007)

During the first year of the reformed sugar regime in MY 2006/07, the total sugar production in EU-25 declined to 17.6 million MT from 21.4 million MT in MY 2005/06. Estimates for MY 2007/08 suggest a further reduction to 16.7 million MT. Stocks are forecast to increase by around 800,000 MT in MY 2007/08, and human domestic consumption should decrease by 10 percent in MY 2007/08 over the extended (15 month) previous year. Industrial/bioethanol use is expected to increase to 1 million MT in MY 2007/08.

GAIN Report E47029

Semi-Annual Report (November 2007)

Most of the EU Member States report that they are having a high, or a very high, yield of sugar per hectare this year. The exceptions are the south-eastern part of the Union where there has been a severe summer drought and the UK where a wet summer and reduced sunlight hours have led to variable and mostly lower yields. Total EU sugar production will continue to decrease and the EU production quota for MY 2007/08 will be reduced to 16,6 MMT. With the very high prices for cereals, the production of bioethanol using sugar beet as feedstock is now expected to increase faster than earlier anticipated.

GAIN Report E47097
 

Reports

EU Agriculture Council Backs Changes in Sugar Restructuring Scheme E47087 (September 2007)
Estonia’s Sugar Woes - GAIN report EN6003 (April 2007)
EU Agrees to Mandatory 2007/08 Sugar Production Cut - GAIN report E47014 (March 2007)
EU agrees one-year cut in sugar quota - GAIN report E36044 - March 2006)
European Commission publishes warning on sugar quota cut (February 2006)
Estonia’s Sugar Woes - GAIN Report EN6001 (January 2006)
EU agrees sugar reform - GAIN Report E35225 (December 2005)
UK reaction to the EU sugar reform deal - GAIN Report UK5033 (November 2005)
Polish reaction to the EU sugar reforms - GAIN Report PL5037 (November 2005)
EU proposes radical sugar reform - GAIN Report E35143 (July 2005)
EU loses appeal in WTO EU Sugar Export Subsidies Panel - GAIN Report E35082 (April 2005)
EU Sugar intervention used for the first time in 20 years - GAIN Report E35032 (February 2005)
German Position on EU Reform Proposal for Sugar Market Regime (February 2005)
Sugar and the European Union: Implication of WTO Findings and Reform (November 2004)
European Commission proposes sugar reform to begin 2005/2006 (July 2004)
EU extends ban on duty free Serbian sugar imports (February 2004)
EU Accession: Excess Sugar Stocks to be Taxed (January 2004)
ACP countries weigh in on EU sugar reform - GAIN Report E23237 (December 2003)
LDC's prefer fixed sugar quotas - GAIN Report E23220 (November 2003)
EU Commission proposes reforms for sugar, cotton, olive oil and tobacco - GAIN Report E23181 (September 2003)
EU suspends Serbia's tariff free access for sugar - GAIN Report E23066
 

Links

Reform of the Sugar Sector - link to full text of the reform proposals (European Commission - DG Agriculture) - Nov. 2005

U.K. Parliament Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's report on Reform of the Sugar Regime, July 2004 / U.K. Government's response, Sept. 2004

African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries express extreme dissatisfaction with EU sugar reform proposals and accompanying measures  - June2005

Oxfam Briefing Paper: A sweeter future: the potential for EU sugar reform to contribute to poverty reduction in Southern Africa

Reform of the sugar sector (CAP Reform- European Commission)- June 2005