The European sugar sector today - economic dimension

CEFS represents European sugar manufacturers and refiners – 61 companies across 20 EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) and Switzerland.

Sugar beet is grown and processed in 19 EU member states by 109 factories. These factories drive the economies of some of the EU’s most vulnerable rural areas, supporting 140,000 farms and about 180,000 direct and indirect jobs. The industry has a long history of social dialogue and invests heavily in skills and training for its own employees. It is also the driver behind a large number of European employers ranging from research institutes to machinery manufacturers, many of which are SMEs.

European sugar manufacturers are committed to a more competitive European sugar sector. Manufacturers are continuously investing in a smart, sustainable and inclusive future. The sector is making considerable investments to increase its productivity and the industry is working with growers to make improvements on farms and in factories. For example we have seen more sugar per hectare, longer campaigns and larger factories, bringing economies of scale. For more information see CEFS statistics.