Article – Sugar demand is sweet news for north

8 April 2014
Sid Russell
Central Telegraph

PHOTO: Sugar consumption is said to be on the rise again. (Lee Constable)

PREDICTIONS of increased global demand for sugar has sweetened submissions for future development in the region.
Consumption is forecast to rise from 168 million tonne to 257 million tonne by 2030.
This was one of the key aspects heading Canegrowers Mackay’s submission to the Inquiry into Northern Australia public hearing in Mackay.
Canegrowers Mackay chairman Kevin Borg said the organisation was pleased to have received an invitation to deliver a submission and an overview of the sugar industry to the Australian Parliament’s Northern Australia committee in Mackay.
“In our submission we were able to express our views on potential opportunities for our sector and region in the northern development inquiry,” he said.
“Our region, and northern Australia, is on the leading edge to access the close Asian market, but harnessing this requires sensible forethought and some changes to our governments’ policy framework.”
Mr Borg described the predicted consumption increase as “staggering” and said planning and strong leadership would be needed to take advantage of the opportunities.
Infrastructure charges and increasing production costs also needed to be brought back under control, he said.
Courtesy of the Central Telegraph