At the sugar cane mill
Cane sugar is initially extracted in sugar mills in the areas where it is grown (tropical and semi-tropical regions) as soon as it is harvested. On average a hectare yields about 50 tonnes of sugar cane, from which seven tonnes of sugar can be extracted. Sugar cane is similar to bamboo and has a very tough shiny outer coating which protects the sweet, woody inner fibre.
The process goes like this :
- The cane is cut into small pieces and shredded
- It is crushed between heavy rollers
- This is sprayed with hot water. Lime is added to clean the resulting juice
- The brown liquid is filtered to produce a thin juice
- The juice is boiled under vacuum to form a thick syrup
- The crystals (raw sugar) and syrup (molasses) are separated in a centrifuge
- Brown raw sugar crystals are produced
- The raw sugar is sent all over the world
Refining cane sugar in Britain
Refining takes place throughout the year in Britain, using raw sugar from a number of countries. Any impurities and traces of molasses are removed. As a result, pure white sugar crystals are produced. The processes used are very similar to those used in the raw sugar cane mill.
For further information please visit Tate and Lyle
At the beet sugar factory
The extraction and production of white sugar from beet takes place on the same factory site. A sample from each delivery of sugar beet entering the factories in Britain is tested to find out how much of the beet is made up of sugar and the farmer is paid accordingly. On average a hectare yields about 41 tonnes of clean, topped roots from which seven tonnes of sugar can be extracted.
The process goes like this :
- The sugar beet is washed and sliced into small pieces known as cossettes
- The cossettes are sprayed with hot water. Lime and carbon dioxide are added to clean the resulting juice
- The brown liquid is filtered
- The juice is boiled under vacuum to produce a thick syrup. Crystals start to appear. Tiny sugar crystals called ‘seeds’ are added to encourage crystallization
- The crystals are separated from the syrup in a centrifuge
- Pure white sugar is produced and granulated
The factory operates when the sugar beet harvest starts until all the beet has been processed, usually between September and January. After this the factory closes for maintenance.
For further information please visit British Sugar plc
Transport in the sugar industry
Transport is an important factor in the sugar cane and beet industries. Most of the sugar from beet is used in the country where it is grown, eg Britain. However, countries such as the West Indies export a lot of the raw sugar they produce. In fact, Britain imports half of its sugar requirements from cane producing countries.
The raw cane sugar crystals are taken all over the world in huge ocean-going bulk carriers. Once in Britain, the sugar is transferred straight from the ships to the refineries which are usually situated next to the ports.
For the beet sugar industry, lorries bring the harvested sugar beet to the sugar factories for processing.
Both cane and beet sugar, either in small packets, large sacks, or in bulk, are taken by lorry to supermarkets and food and drink manufacturers all over the country.
Sugar production figures worldwide
World sugar beet & cane
production 2009/10 | Quantity
(metric tons raw value) |
Asia | 48,637,000 |
Central America | 11,552,000 |
Africa | 10,613,000 |
North America | 7,229,000 |
South America | 44,463,000 |
Oceania | 4,940,000 |
World Total | 154,854,000 |
World Total of which is beet | 35,138,000 |
World Total of which is cane | 119,716,000 |
World top 10 sugar producing countries 2009/10*
| | | Metric tonnes raw sugar value | |
1 | Brazil | 36,500,000 | Cane |
2 | India | 17,290,000 | Cane |
3 | China | 11,300,000 | Cane |
4 | Thailand | 7,600,000 | Cane |
5 | Mexico | 4,950,000 | Cane |
6 | France
Australia | 4,700,000
4,700,000 | Beet
Cane |
7 | Germany | 4,575,000 | Beet |
8 | USA | 4,151,000 | Beet |
9 | Russia | 3,570,000 | Beet |
10 | Turkey | 2,700,000 | Beet |
UK production of sugar beet was 1,422,000 in 2009/10*. For further information, please visit Tate & Lyle or British Sugar plc
*Sugar Economy Europe 2011 Bartens/Mosloff 57th Edition
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