Sugar yields in the Netherlands have re-gained momentum to reach 17%, up 0.1% on the week, as the country reaches the finishing point in its harvesting cycle, according to the latest weekly figures published by Dutch producer Suiker Unie.
Last week also marked an increase in harvesting as nearly 3,400 hectares of beet was harvested, compared the prior week when only 2,300 hectares was covered.
"Only a small 800 hectares of beet is left to be harvested now," said Suiker Unie.
According Suiker Unie, the harvest is still due to be completed in time at the end of December.
"Despite the wet conditions, it is expected that all beets can still be lifted in a timely manner. The last processing of the plants will probably be just after or during Christmas," said the Dutch producer recently.
Last week was marked by a small increase in sugar yields across the country to higher yields. The highest sugar yielding region in the latest week was Noord-Beveland with a yield of 17.5%. Last weeks highest achiever wasn't far behind at 17.4% as it experienced a fall of 0.8%.
Meanwhile, the wider Groningen area remains as the one of the highest yielding region at an average of 17.23%, up from last week's figure by 0.1%, the data show.
These figures continue to be an improvement on the very first yield figures of the campaign in the Netherlands, which stood at an average of 15.4% for the entire country. The average beet yield for the country has now sustained an average of 16.975% over the latest month, and an average of 16.6% thus far.
Overall the harvest and the crop is running as planned, and given the time of the year most expectations have been met.
Suiker Unie also mentioned an increase in demand for beet seed orders for 2016.
"Beet seed orders for 2016 are in full swing, not all varieties are unlimited though," it said, indicating that producers are looking to notch up production for the next campaign.
Temperatures are currently forecast to be higher than normal for this time of the year in many beet producing regions of Europe, especially in the Netherlands, where, over the next 14 days, temperatures will hover between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius.
