Latest news with #JamalAlGhurair
Bloomberg
12-02-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Sugar Refiners in Middle East See Lower Output on Weak Margins
Sugar refineries in the Middle East are running below capacity because of lower profitability, according to the head of Dubai's Al Khaleej Sugar Co., owner of the world's largest port-based sugar refinery. A lower white premium, the difference between the price of raw and refined sugar, has pushed some refiners to cut production, the firm's managing director Jamal Al Ghurair said in an interview on the sidelines of the Dubai Sugar Conference. The premium which serves as a proxy for the cost of refining raw sugar, until recently hovered around or under $90 a ton, below the $100 level deemed profitable.
Gulf Today
10-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
Over 900 global experts discuss sugar industry challenges
The 9th edition of the Dubai Sugar Conference 2025 will kick off on Monday in Dubai with the participation of more than 900 experts from 78 countries, which is one of the most prominent global events for the sugar industry since its establishment in 2016. The conference from February 10 to 13 will discuss and review developments in the global sugar industry and trade in light of climate challenges and protectionist measures between China and the United States of America. The conference will host Jamal Al Ghurair, Director of Al Khaleej Sugar Company, the world's largest independent sugar refinery, and Jacob Robbins of Emeterra, the world's largest industrial buyer of sugar. The global event will highlight the need to develop flexible visions for dealing with variables, enhancing innovation, employing technologies, launching new products with high returns, adopting new business visions, and catalysts for global change in the industry. The conference will witness the participation of more than 60 speakers who will share their experiences and ideas with the attendees, while discussions will delve into global supply and demand opportunities, and consider key topics such as sugar, health, green products, the use of artificial intelligence, and the production of sustainable aviation fuel from sugar. This year's keynote speaker, Diego Herrera, CEO of Pantaleon Group, will focus on innovation and new technologies that are creating a range of new products. I sara Vongkusolkit, Honorary Chairman of the Mitr Phol Group, will be presented with the Global Sugar Industry Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the sugar industry in Thailand. The conference sessions will discuss global changes related to the sugar industry and trade, particularly in India, which recently announced 1 million tons of exports, and the possibility of crop declines in Thailand, China and Pakistan, which puts their 2024/25 figures in question, as well as Brazil's expectations for a high sugarcane percentage in 2024, and will it recover after limited rains? And how will all this affect the large surplus expected of 4 million tons in 2025/26? And how will the unpredictability of the tariff-obsessed US administration affect trade flows and the dollar? Participants will review Brazil's position to produce 41-42 million tonnes of sugar in 2025/26, EU producers in 2024 facing rising costs, sharply lower prices and an influx of sugar from Ukraine, beet farmers having a positive year given good returns and prices, India is expected to return to the sugar export game in 2025/26 and Thailand's official sugarcane production in 2024/25 is estimated to reach around 93 million tonnes.
Zawya
09-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
The Dubai Sugar Conference 2025 announced
The Dubai Sugar Conference has become one of the foremost events in the sugar industry, since its inception in 2016. Now in its ninth edition, it has become the premier event for the global sugar and bioenergy industry. Last year we asked the question, 'Will 2024 surpass 2023 to be the hottest year ever?' And it was – with 2024 being the warmest year on record and the first year that the world saw temperatures go above 1.5 degrees Celsius as compared to pre-industrial levels. This, of course, impacts how we live and work, but it also has significant implications for agriculture which is at the heart of the sugar and bioenergy industry. In turn, this highlights certain imperatives that the industry must pursue – climate resilience, innovation, new technologies and new high margin products. This thinking has actually been the inspiration for the theme of this year's Conference, ' From Evolution to Revolution – The Road Ahead '. It is indeed time to embrace a new reality. The Dubai Sugar Conference 2025 will be held at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, from Monday, February 10 to Thursday, February 13, 2025. Jamal Al Ghurair, the principal of Al Khaleej Sugar, the world's largest standalone sugar refinery and Jacob Robbins of Emeterra, who used to be the world's largest industrial buyer of sugar, will host the Conference once again. Last year, we had an outstanding Conference with record participation of 900 delegates from over 70 countries. This year we should also have record attendance with 78 nations represented at The Dubai Sugar Conference. We expect our delegates to take away insights that they can apply in their own businesses – wherever these may be. We see the Dubai Sugar Conference acting as a catalyst for global change in our industry. A Mixed Picture in Major Sugar Origins The sugar environment seems to be full of surprises. Last month India announced a million tonnes of exports, and now we hear of the prospects of a lower-than-expected crop. Thailand was looking like a bright spot, but with poorer yields this picture might change. China and Pakistan are seeing drier weather, which put their numbers for 2024/25 into question. Brazil's elevated cane and sugar ratio expectations last year were crushed – will they recover after limited rains? To what extent will all this impact the projected largish surplus expected of +/- 4 million tonnes in 2025/26? How will the unpredictability of a tariff-obsessed US administration impact trade flows and the US dollar? Ever important, Brazil looks like it will have 2025/26 resulting in a steady 41-42 million tonne scenario for sugar. Last year ethanol prices trailed sugar and the real plummeted, but will a higher sugar ratio this year change this perspective? With ethanol prices continuing to look remunerative, coupled with a possible increase in the blending ratio and a stronger real, what will this do for the ethanol parity? How will this impact the sugar ratio? Perhaps it will barely make a dent and the ethanol market will provide a floor to prices, as we enter a period of surplus sucrose, continuing to provide a bedrock of stability. 2024 saw producers in the EU face the grim reality of cost increases, significantly lower prices and the influx of sugar from Ukraine. On the other hand, the beet farmers had a positive year given good yields and prices. The figures for stocks confirmed that consumption was weak in 2023/24. However, a recovery is expected in 2024/25. While the woes of the industry may have been attributable to the high beet prices for farmers and low-priced imports from Ukraine, things should look up – with low price imports curtailed, an initial projected increase in consumption and an expected reduction in acreage that should support prices. All eyes are riveted on India – with a million tonnes of exports till end September this year and the paradox of successive crop downgrades for 2024/25, how will this play out? 2025/26 has the expectation of a large recovery. But with pests like the top borer and diseases like red rot playing havoc with the crop in parts of India, how might this impact the next crop? India ought to be back in the sugar export game in 2025/26, but we also hear of ambitious ethanol blending plans that are well ahead of targets. The crop in Thailand was looking promising, but lower than expected yields have put a damper on things. The official estimate is for Thailand to have a cane production for 2024/25 that will reach around 93 million tonnes. This should produce more than 10 million tonnes sugar with significant shifts in the raw / white balance despite the suspension of liquid sugar sales to China. Questions abound on whether Thailand can return to previous highs of 135 million tonnes of cane. All these issues are of significant interest to Al Khaleej Sugar – the world's largest standalone refinery, with a capacity of over 7,000 tonnes of refined white sugar per day and an annual capacity in excess of 2 million tonnes per annum. Placed in a unique geographical position, the company serves highly discerning customers in more than 42 countries last year. Al Khaleej Sugar contributed significantly to the annual global refined sugar production with a production of 1.6 million tonnes of sugar. Supported by the excellent logistical facilities of Jebel Ali Port and other inherent positive contributing factors of the UAE, the company has achieved remarkable growth operating in a primarily non-agricultural region. On the world sugar calendar The Conference will see over 60 Speakers sharing their expertise as we delve into the global supply-demand situation, with deep dives into major origins and key subjects such as sugar and health and climate change. In keeping with the imperative for a revolution, we have sessions with world-leading experts on green chemicals, artificial intelligence and sustainable aviation fuel that can be produced from the sugar complex. We are delighted that Diego Herrera, Chief Executive Officer of the Pantaleon Group, will be the Keynote Speaker this year. He will speak on the of theme of the Conference, as he leads Pantaleon into the future and its new realities, with significant emphasis on innovation and path-breaking new technologies that create a host of new products – all linked to the core operations of the group. Building on Pantaleon's own experience, this should provide direction for the wider industry. This year, it is our absolute honour and privilege to confer The Global Sugar Industry Lifetime Achievement Award on Isara Vongkusolkit, Honorary Chairman of the Mitr Phol Group. Khun Isara's contribution to the sugar industry has not only been in Thailand, but well beyond. This Award recognizes Khun Isara's exceptional impact on the world of sugar. At the Conference, we strive to make the agenda incisive, approach dialogue and debate innovatively, and engage technology to enhance both content and connectivity. We have once again tried to weave sustainability and the support for biodiversity, habitat and wildlife conservation into the fabric of the Conference. The Dubai Sugar Conference is as much about connection as it is about content. As in the previous years, we look forward to hosting a 'revolutionary' event, making The Dubai Sugar Conference the place where the world of sugar meets.
