CANEGROWERS Around the Paddock

CANEGROWERS

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

  1. 11/13/2025

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

    Send us a text 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
  2. 09/11/2025

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

    Send us a text 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. The podcast unveils QSL's innovative FlexPay system, set to revolutionize how growers manage cash flow. This customizable payment system will allow farmers to dial up or dial down their advances weekly based on individual business needs—eliminating the one-size-fits-all financing charges that have been the industry standard. This shift to user-pays financing represents a significant evolution in how growers can optimize their financial management. Perhaps most revealing is the dramatic shift in grower behavior this season. While typically 70% of the crop would be priced by this point in September, Hampson notes only 35-40% has been priced so far. "It's really hard to forward price where they know they're probably not making any money or they're locking in at around a cost of production level," he explains, highlighting the strategic patience growers are exercising in today's challenging market. Despite current market pressures, Hampson maintains a constructive long-term outlook. With global prices at levels where "no investment case in sugar globally makes any sense," he predicts eventual upward movement will be necessary to stimulate the production needed to meet growing global demand. For Queensland growers, the path forward lies in optimizing their risk management strategies while leveraging the sophisticated tools and services that QSL has developed over its 101-year history. Discover how your sugar farming operation can navigate today's market challenges while positioning for tomorrow's opportunities by exploring QSL's innovative approaches to pricing, payment systems, and market access.

    41 min
  3. 08/24/2025

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

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