20 sugar factories have closed in the European Union since 2017 — CEFS

The Committee of European Sugar Producers (CEFS) said that 17 sugar factories have closed in the European Union since 2017. This was stated in a statement by the committee on LinkedIn.

According to the association, five sugar factories were announced to close last year alone, and another factory confirmed that it would not process sugar beet in the next production campaign. CEFS emphasizes that these are not isolated cases, but a constant trend.

“These closures are not isolated cases. They are a direct consequence of the depression in the sugar market, the increase in production costs and the growing competition from cheap imports, which makes many factories economically unprofitable,” the message says.

The industry association emphasizes that the closure of sugar factories has not only industrial, but also serious socio-economic consequences. For many regions, such enterprises are key employers and centers of economic activity, and their shutdown threatens the incomes of hundreds of workers and thousands of farmers who grow sugar beets.

Tags: sugar, EU