Südzucker expects an operating loss for financial year 2018/19

Conditional to a respective resolution by the supervisory board (expected 16 May), an unchanged dividend of € 0.45 per share shall be recommended for financial year 2017/18 to the annual general meeting, taking place 19 July. Südzucker expects group revenues of € 6.8 to 7.1 bn for financial year 2018/19 and group operating result to decrease significantly to € 100 to 200 m. In this connection the company expects an operating loss of € 100 to 200 m in sugar segment.

According to Südzucker, this temporary development is mainly driven by the expected burden in light of changes in the EU sugar market as well as by the ongoing very weak world market environment reflecting a global production surplus. On the other hand Südzucker expects earnings improvements in special products and fruit segments. CropEnergies segment is expected to reach an operating result range of € 30 to 70 m. Despite the current difficult framework for sugar, Südzucker expects an EBITDA level of € 420 to 520 m. The full report for financial year 2017/18 will be published on 17 May.