US sugar production still seen at a record, says USDA

Production of sugar in the United States was projected on Monday to reach an all-time high at 9.49 million short tons (ST) in 2024/25 as farmers and sugar processors report good yields for both beet and sugarcane, the USDA said on Friday. The projection, however, does not take into account the eventual impacts from hurricanes Helene and Milton on Florida, the country’s second-largest sugarcane producer after Louisiana. The USDA said in a note that its estimates were concluded before the two major hurricanes. Sugar market participants, however, do not expect significant damage to sugarcane crops in Florida. “Most of the crops in Florida are located further south from where the hurricanes made landfall,” said a New York-based sugar broker, adding that an eventual problem would be excessive wetness as the harvest approaches, which could make it harder to operate the machines. The record U.S. sugar production will lead to less imports, ...