Mackay imports sugar from Thailand

IT'S like selling ice to the Eskimos: about 40,000 tonnes of Thai sugar is being shipped into Mackay to top up dwindling reserves after a disastrous, waterlogged harvest.

Sugar Australia, which is owned by Sucrogen and Mackay Sugar Limited, is importing raw sugar to boost stores at its Racecourse refinery, which supplies the industrial and consumer sugar market and markets the CSR Sugar brand.

At the time, its chief operating officer said QSL, which marketed and sold sugar for eight milling groups including Mackay Sugar, was forced to buy sugar from other countries to honour sales contracts and retain customers.

QSL this week said the millers had unanimously agreed last year's weather-induced shortfall had cost QSL $105.5million.

“QSL has previously determined and advised the amount of each supplier's share of these costs,” the company said in a statement. “This has now been accepted and is seen as an equitable way to distribute these costs given the circumstances.”

source: dailymercury