{"id":9990,"date":"2026-09-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/?post_type=news_article&p=9990"},"modified":"2026-09-01T09:27:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T07:27:18","slug":"nordzucker-starts-the-2026-2027-campaign-factories-well-prepared","status":"publish","type":"news_article","link":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/news\/nordzucker-starts-the-2026-2027-campaign-factories-well-prepared\/","title":{"rendered":"Nordzucker starts the 2026\/2027 campaign \u2013 factories well prepared"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tNordzucker will begin processing sugar beet at its European sugar factories in early September. The production sites have been thoroughly prepared for the campaign, with the focus on health and safety, quality and efficiency. Due to weather conditions, beet yields have not developed optimally in most growing regions.<\/div>\n\n\n

In the coming days, Nordzucker will launch the 2026\/2027 campaign at its European sites. The two Polish sites, Che\u0142m\u017ca and Opalenica, will kick off the campaign, followed by Lithuania, Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. As in previous years, organic sugar beet will be processed first at the Schladen (Germany) and Nyk\u00f8bing (Denmark) sites. The Nordzucker factories have made intensive use of the period between campaigns to carry out extensive maintenance, repair and modernisation work. \u201cDue to the weather this year, the beet has not developed optimally so far in many of Nordzucker\u2019s growing regions. However, weather conditions in the coming weeks will remain crucial for the beet\u2019s further growth and the development of its sugar content right up to harvest,\u201d says Lars Gorissen, CEO of Nordzucker AG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plant diseases such as SBR remain under scrutiny<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the spread of the Schilf-Glasfl\u00fcgelzikade* and the associated beet diseases SBR and stolbur remain a key concern. These diseases can affect the sugar content and processing of the beets and reduce sugar yield. Nordzucker is continuously monitoring developments and utilises comprehensive monitoring systems to assess the situation in the growing regions and, on that basis, to devise measures for crop advisory services and recommendations for growers. At the same time, the company continues to rely on close cooperation with research institutes, ministries and authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe success of a campaign depends on close cooperation between many stakeholders along the value chain. From our growers, through our agricultural colleagues and beet logistics teams, to the staff at our factories \u2013 numerous teams work hand in hand to ensure the safe and reliable processing of the beet and the supply of sugar to our customers. I wish everyone a successful campaign,\u201d emphasises Gorissen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintenance phase utilised for modernisation and efficiency improvements<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In preparation for the 2026\/2027 campaign, Nordzucker has invested in the modernisation of production facilities at numerous sites. For example, new evaporator stages have been installed at several Nordzucker sites to enable a more energy-efficient production process with significant CO\u2082 savings. At the Nordstemmen plant, a new beet washing facility will also come into operation at the start of the campaign. The plant features state-of-the-art cleaning technology, optimises water treatment and enables the beets to be transported more gently to the factory for processing. The Nordzucker site in Schladen is commissioning a new extraction tower. This will make sugar production more efficient and reduce energy consumption in the production process. \u201cThrough our investments and maintenance measures, we are driving forward both efficiency and decarbonisation in equal measure. We have already achieved around half of the CO\u2082 reduction planned by 2030 compared with the base year of 2018 and have significantly reduced energy consumption per tonne of sugar produced since 2018. The combination of operational excellence, energy efficiency and decarbonisation is and remains a central pillar of our corporate strategy,\u201d explains Alexander Godow, COO of Nordzucker AG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenging market environment persists<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The start of the campaign continues to take place against the backdrop of a challenging market phase. High sugar stocks in the EU and on the world market, as well as low sugar prices, are currently shaping the operating conditions for the European sugar industry. Added to this is the tax on sugar-sweetened soft drinks currently being planned in Germany, which could bring with it considerable uncertainty and significant economic consequences for the industry, the agricultural sector and numerous jobs in rural regions. At the same time, extreme weather conditions and increasing disease pressure are affecting yield expectations in many European growing regions. \u201cIt is precisely in a challenging market environment that high-performance factories, efficient processes and close cooperation with our growers are crucial. We are continuing to work consistently towards this,\u201d says Gorissen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restructuring of the production network as part of the strategic transformation<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Against the backdrop of persistent structural overcapacity in the European sugar industry, Nordzucker intends to cease sugar production at its Nakskov site in Denmark. This is a proactive measure as part of the company\u2019s Fields for Growth strategy, aimed at securing the Group\u2019s future competitiveness and creating a more efficient production network overall. Earlier this year, the company had already announced that sugar production at the Tren\u010diansk\u00e1 Tepl\u00e1 site in Slovakia, as well as the refining of raw sugar at the Porkkala site in Finland, would be discontinued. This has already optimised production capacities within the Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Pentastiridius leporinus<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nordzucker will begin processing sugar beet at its European sugar factories in early September. Due to weather conditions, beet yields have not developed optimally in most growing regions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_article\/9990"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news_article"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_article\/9990\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9997,"href":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news_article\/9990\/revisions\/9997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nordzucker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9990"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}