Suedzucker confirms forecast of lower earnings on high costs, low prices
HAMBURG, May 16 (Reuters) -Europe's largest sugar producer Suedzucker SZUG.DE on Thursday confirmed it expects declines in annual earnings largely because of high sugar production costs and weak sugar prices.
Suedzucker affirmed an initial forecast made on April 15 that its fiscal 2024/25 group operating profit will fall to between 500 million and 600 million euros ($544 million to $652 million) from 950 million in the which ended in February.
Full year operating result in its core sugar segment is expected to be between 200 and 300 million euros, down from 558 million, it said.
"For the 2024 (production) campaign, we expect a decrease in production costs," the company said. "However, the anticipated decline in sugar prices on average over the fiscal year is likely to have a negative impact on the result."
Sugar futures hit 18-month lows on Tuesday on expectations of high sugar harvests in Brazil.
"The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to exacerbate the already high volatility on the sales and procurement markets," Suedzucker said. "The future impact of the negative influences stemming from the EU’s extended duty-free access for agricultural imports from Ukraine, which is now limited in terms of volume, remains uncertain."
"The implications of the war that broke out in the Middle East last October are likewise difficult to assess."
($1 = 0.9200 euros)
Reporting by Michael Hogan; editing by Jason Neely
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