CANEGROWERS Around the Paddock

CANEGROWERS
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CANEGROWERS advocates on behalf of sugarcane growers in Australia. This podcast series examines some key issues and challenges and celebrates the successes.

  1. Jun 20

    Sugar Prices Are Below Cost So What Happens Next

    Send us Fan Mail Sugar doesn’t need a headline to hurt, it just needs to sit below the cost of production for long enough. We’re back with the CANEGROWERS Marketing Information Service update for June 2026, and the message is blunt: prices aren’t where growers want them, shared pool add-ons are under pressure, and the market is still working through surplus supply from the last upswing. We’re joined by Tom from Green Pool and Rob from Famarco to unpack what’s really driving the global sugar outlook. We talk Centre‑South Brazil’s huge crop and rising input costs, Thailand’s switch toward cassava and the production hit from disease, and why the EU could step down next season. On the demand side, we look at how China’s stronger production and Indonesia’s slow import permits change trade flows, plus how the Middle East conflict disrupts refinery buying and the usual stock-building behaviour. For Australian cane growers, the practical issues land in the shared pool: softer Far East premiums, lower polarisation upside, and marketing costs that don’t fall just because the futures price does. We also get specific about forward pricing and risk management: what “time in the market” buys you, why knowing your cost of production matters more in a low-price year, and how to avoid backing yourself into a corner while you wait for the next cycle turn. If you’re watching El Nino probabilities and the Indian monsoon for a trigger, you’ll want these frameworks in your pocket. Subscribe for the next market update, share this with a grower mate, and leave a review with your question: what’s the one signal you’re watching before you commit more pricing?

    42 min

  2. Apr 23

    From global dominance to a shifting market

    Send us Fan Mail Jonathan Williams and Stephen Geldart from Czarnikow join from London to reflect on when Australia led global raw sugar exports and the challenge was finding homes for massive crops. They unpack how quality, logistics and relationships kept Queensland competitive – and why getting the last call from a refiner still matters. Stephen brings it to today – a tougher market, Brazil’s rise, and where future demand could come from, from biofuels to new industrial uses for sugar.

    43 min

  3. Mar 18

    Talking Trade: How Middle East Conflict and Oil Prices Hit Sugar

    Send us Fan Mail Oil jumps, sugar slumps, and every cane grower is left asking the same thing: what actually moves the price from here? We sit down to unpack the March 2026 global sugar market update, starting with the shock coming out of the Middle East and why a surge in crude oil can ripple straight into farm-gate reality through freight, fertiliser, fuel and broader cost pressures. If you’re watching margins tighten, this is the context you need before making any big calls.

    21 min

  4. 11/13/2025

    Talking Trade: From Surplus to Strategy: Making Sense of a Softer Sugar Market

    Send us Fan Mail Prices are soft, tanks are full, and the sugar market is asking a hard question: how do you protect margin when the prompt is at life‑of‑contract lows but the future looks better? We dig into the turn from a multi‑year deficit to a sizeable surplus and show why the forward curve is your best signal right now. You’ll hear a clear breakdown of Brazil’s production mix, why mills kept maximising sugar over ethanol, and when that balance might finally shift. We also unpack Thailand’s rebound, India’s fixed cane pricing and likely export subsidies, and what those flows mean for raw premiums and shared pool values across Asia. Zooming out, we connect the macro dots that matter: cheaper oil, policy‑driven trade volatility, and the tug‑of‑war in currencies with the Aussie dollar and Brazilian real. Then we bring it back to the paddock with practical steps to manage price risk. If you’ve been waiting for certainty before locking prices, this conversation makes the case for a different approach: anchor decisions to your cost of production, use layered targets, and treat the forward curve as a tool to move profit out of a noisy present and into a steadier future. We close with a simple framework you can apply this week. Map volumes by season, set trigger levels that clear your margin needs, and pre‑commit to execution so you’re not forced to price at the worst time. The prompt may sting, but deferred seasons still offer room to build resilience. If this helped clarify your plan, follow the show, share it with a grower who needs a pricing reset, and leave a review with your top takeaway so we can dig deeper next time.

    26 min
  5. Stay Ahead: Smart Sugar Pricing Strategies You Can Use Today

    10/30/2025

    Stay Ahead: Smart Sugar Pricing Strategies You Can Use Today

    Send us Fan Mail Queensland sugarcane growers have access to some of the world’s best tools for forward pricing – a system many international producers can only dream of. But having the tools is only part of the picture. How do we use them effectively? What should we be thinking about now to manage price risk in today’s global sugar market? This month’s Marketing Information Service (MIS) update dives into exactly that – giving you the insights and strategies to make the most of your pricing options. Rob Imray at Farmarco Australia joins Dougall Lodge on the latest podcast to discuss how to use price risk management tools to make the most of the sugar market’s volatility and cyclical nature. Rob is a licensed financial advisor to many growers in the QLD industry and is also an experienced pool manager. the prompt global sugar prices have come under pressure over the last month and hit levels not seen for the last 2.5 years. But there are higher prices in forward markets. 🎧 Tune in now and make sure you're one step ahead when it comes to securing the best return for your cane.

    35 min

  6. 10/17/2025

    A Rapid Rise, Relentless Damage & The Long Road To Recovery - Cairns grower recall shocking Spring flood

    Send us Fan Mail A sudden September flood tore through the Russell River and Babinda Creek, smashing levee banks, blanketing new plant cane with debris, and forcing growers to rethink recovery under a tightening clock. We share first-hand accounts, real costs, policy gaps, and why community support and better forecasting now matter more than ever. • shock rise of the Russell River and Babinda Creek • rapid erosion, topsoil loss, and trash blanketing • plant cane damage and long-term yield impacts • rail line repairs and logistics delays • costs of levee rebuilds and laser-levelling • push for disaster declaration and grants • red tape on using own machinery and materials • mental health strain after four wet years • unreliable forecasts and risky input timing • practical recovery priorities before the wet

    30 min

  7. 09/11/2025

    Talking Trade - Exploring QSL's Future: Innovation and Industry Insights with Mark Hampson

    Send us Fan Mail Mark Hampson, CEO of Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL), brings a wealth of insight to this candid conversation about the state of Australia's sugar industry and the unique position Queensland growers hold in the global market. With sugar prices hovering around $530 per tonne and approaching cost of production levels, Hampson reveals why Australian cane farmers should recognize their enviable position compared to global competitors. "The Australian grower is in a unique situation where they're one of the few growers in the world that can price risk management out four and five seasons," he explains, highlighting capabilities that sugar producers in Thailand and Brazil can only dream about.

    41 min

  8. 08/24/2025

    Talking Trade - Forward Pricing Strategies Are Reshaping How Growers Manage Risk

    Send us Fan Mail Sugar pricing might be the best-kept secret in Australian agriculture, offering growers a level of price certainty that other farming sectors can only dream about. In this revealing conversation with Simon Hood, Manager of Wilmar Grower Marketing, we explore the sophisticated sugar marketing system that allows Queensland cane farmers to lock in prices up to three years forward. Hood takes us behind the scenes of Wilmar's operations across their four Queensland regions, where they service approximately 1,300 growers. What emerges is a picture of an industry with exceptional price transparency, driven by a deep global futures market that provides unparalleled pricing opportunities for forward-thinking producers. The discussion reveals fascinating insights into grower behaviour, with Hood noting that while 85% of Wilmar's growers manage their own pricing rather than using pool structures, many haven't fully capitalised on forward pricing opportunities despite recent market highs. "We very much promote a risk management approach," explains Hood, emphasising that successful pricing isn't about hitting market peaks but rather averaging prices over time to ensure sustainability. We also explore the physical premium market, which has normalised after delivering exceptional returns of $55 per tonne in 2023, and innovative financial tools Wilmar offers including pre-season payments at competitive interest rates, accelerated payment options, and even access to Wilmar's significant purchasing power for inputs like fertiliser. Looking forward, Hood shares Wilmar's market outlook, noting concerns about Brazilian production exceeding expectations and a large Indian crop potentially capping price upside. With current prices around $575 per tonne, some growers are feeling pressure as margins tighten, making strategic price risk management more important than ever. Whether you're a cane farmer looking to refine your marketing strategy or simply interested in agricultural commodities, this episode offers valuable insights into one of Australia's most sophisticated agricultural pricing systems.

    33 min
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About

CANEGROWERS advocates on behalf of sugarcane growers in Australia. This podcast series examines some key issues and challenges and celebrates the successes.

Information

  • Creator
    CANEGROWERS
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    29
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 CANEGROWERS Around the Paddock
  • Show Website
    CANEGROWERS Around the Paddock