Nordzucker_GB 03-04_E_.pd 1 - Nordzucker AG

Management Report
Shareholdings Sugar International
Sugar International – Sugar yield (in t/ha)
7.5
7.0
6.5
6.0.
0
50
45
40
35.
0
Sugar International – Campaign (in days)
130
100
70
40.
0
Sugar International – Processing rate
(in 1,000 tonnes of beet/day)
20
15
10
5 . .0
0
6.3
54
7.4
Poland
59
Poland
18.3
18.7
Poland
7.5
Sugar International – Beet yield (in t/ha)
44.7
42.9
39.6
Poland
77
13.2
6.7
120
100
5.4
7.7
Slowakia
49.8
44.9
Slowakia
Slowakia
4.9
Slowakia
6.6
39.6
93
4.9
Sugar International – Employees (as of 1 Nov.)
6.5
6.1
Hungary
42.4
38.7
Hungary
57 47
Hungary
15.9 16.3
Hungary
The division Sugar International coordinates
the Nordzucker sugar activities
abroad. In recent years, Nordzucker
has expanded its core activities in the
accession countries in order to maintain
its position in Europe through major
market shares and to remain competitive
in the long run. Following the acquisition
of sugar factory companies in Poland,
Slovakia, and – in the form of a minority
participation – in the Czech Republic, we
acquired three sugar factories in Hungary
early in 2003.
In the 2003 campaign, Nordzucker
operated eight (eight) sugar factories in
Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary, which
account for an average processing rate of
34,000 (23,600) metric tons of beets per
day. The total area of 54,000 (36,000)
hectares yielded an average 41 (47) metric
tons of sugar beets.
Poland
In Poland, Nordzucker holds a market
share of just below nine percent. Since
the government called a halt to any privatisation,
it has been prohibited by law
to acquire additional state-owned Polish
factories. Whether or not the opportunities
for new acquisitions in Poland will
improve after the country’s EU accession
remains to be seen.
2,047
2,000
1,762
1,500
1,533
1,178
1,000
905
601
686 673
Campaign employees
500.
0 Full-time employees
Poland
Slowakia
Hungary
2001 2002 2003
26
Reduced Losses
Surplus production as a result of lacking
export mechanisms and cash flow bottlenecks
faced by the state-owned sugar
company “Polski Cukier”, led to a sag in
sugar prices in the year under review.
Government bodies did not support
attempts to export the surplus production.