Rain has continued to disrupt the 2022 crushing season and we are now preparing to crush past Christmas.

We have been consulting with grower collectives about extended season finish dates, and are working with growers, harvesting contractors and our employees on plans to crush into early January.

Our eight mills have now processed a total of 12.45M tonnes of cane, which represents 76 per cent of the forecast 16.28M tonne crop.

With world sugar prices currently above $600 a tonne, we remain focused on working with growers and harvesting contractors to get the whole crop off.

• The Herbert region received more than triple the October long-term average rainfall last month, and the crop is continuing to cut above estimate.
• Harvesting contractors are doing a good job at supplying cane in very challenging field conditions.
• Average CCS continues to track below budget.
• Based on projected throughputs and additional time built in for wet weather, we currently expect to finish the Herbert season in the first week of January.

 

• Wet weather has significantly disrupted harvesting over the past month and created additional processing challenges from stale burnt cane, and cane with high dirt levels.
• With improved ground conditions and cleaner cane supply, crush rates have now returned to budgeted levels.
• We are continuing to transfer cane to Invicta Mill from the other three Burdekin mills.
• Based on projected throughputs and additional time built in for wet weather, we currently expect the last Burdekin mill to finish the season in the first week of January.

 

• We are continuing to work through the challenges of wet weather and skilled labour shortages.
• Our operations and cane supply teams are working hard to maximise cane supply and weekly throughputs. We are utilising any wet weather stops to perform necessary maintenance, reducing the need for scheduled maintenance stops.
• The quality of cane coming into the mill has been good overall and the harvesting sector is doing a great job at supplying cane in difficult conditions.
• Based on projected throughputs and additional time built in for wet weather, we currently expect to finish the Proserpine season in the first week of January.

 

• A recent run of dry weather has improved ground conditions, bringing a gradual rise in bin weights and a noticeable reduction in mud levels.
• Factory reliability has remained at a good level.
• The Plane Creek crop is cutting well above estimate.
• Based on projected throughputs and additional time built in for wet weather, we currently expect to finish the Plane Creek season in the first week of January.