Australian Sugar Regions May Get Heavy Rainfall in Coming Days

Bloomberg) -- Cane-growing regions in Australia’s Queensland state, which produces 95 percent of the nation’s sugar, may get more rain this week, adding to falls that have boosted the outlook for the crop.

Coastal and adjacent areas between Innisfail and Mackay may get as much as 150 millimeters (5.9 inches) of rain in the next four days, said Shoni Maguire, climatologist with the National Climate Center. As much as 700 millimeters was received in the past eight days, he said today by phone.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie is bringing heavy falls to north Queensland, dumping more rain last week in parts than the region would get in an average February. Australia is the world’s second-largest exporter of raw sugar.

“There’s a lot of rain being recorded in all our cane- growing areas right down the coast,” Ron Mullins, acting chief executive officer of industry group Canegrowers said in a phone interview. “If we get a good combination of rain and sunlight, we could be in for a very good crop.”

There was 700 millimeters of rain at the Tully Sugar Mill in the past eight days, 697 millimeters at Innisfail and 285 millimeters at Townsville, according to weather forecaster Maguire. Mackay had about 228 millimeters and Proserpine about 336 millimeters. The bureau issued flood warnings for coastal rivers between Townsville and Bowen.

Queensland harvested about 30 million tons of cane in 2008, Canegrowers’ Mullins said from Brisbane. He declined to give a forecast for the 2009 crop. The current crop is in the peak of its growing period with harvest due to start in about June, he said.

“We’re certainly hoping for a much larger one given the very wet start,” Mullins said. Still, some crops could be damaged if there was continued rainfall and sustained flooding, he said.

Brazil is the world’s largest sugar exporter.