Südzucker`s sound performance extends to third quarter

In the first nine months of the current financial year 2010/11 (March 1 to November 30, 2010), Südzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt`s group revenues were up about five percent from previous year, to Euro 4.7 (previous year: 4.4) bn. According to the company, group operating profit rose about 35 percent over the same period to Euro 416 (previous year: 308) m. Südzucker is forecasting group revenues for the financial year 2010/11 overall to climb to about Euro 6.0 (previous year: 5.7) bn and group operating profit to rise to about Euro 500 (previous year: 403) m. The revenue increase continues to be carried predominantly by the special products and CropEnergies segments.

All segments contributed to operating profit growth. The sugar segment`s revenues came in slightly higher than previous year at Euro 2.537 (previous year: 2.507) bn. The substantially higher operating profit of Euro 236 (previous year: 174) m was mainly driven by the one-time high exports in the first quarter of non-quota sugar from the 2009 campaign as well as by significantly higher quota sugar volumes. The special products segment`s revenues increased to Euro 1.166 (previous year: 1.051) bn. Operating profit came in at Euro 112 (previous year: 106) m.

The CropEnergies segment`s revenues rose to Euro 325 (previous year: 272) m. The growth was driven especially by higher volume due to increased ethanol and by-product production at the Belgian site in Wanze. The higher production output and associated improved capacity loading, together with productivity improvements, enabled the segment to generate sharply higher operating profits: The final total was Euro 32 (previous year: 4) m. The fruit segment`s revenues climbed to Euro 640 (previous year: 608) m. Operating profit came in at Euro 35 (previous year: 25) m.