FDBusiness.com

German-based Sudzucker, which is Europe’s largest sugar group, has reported a 57% increase in operating profit to Eur282m on sales up by around 5% to Eur3.07b for the first half ending August 31st 2010. All business segments – sugar, special products, cropenergies and fruit – contributed to the earnings improvement.

For the full year, Sudzucker now expects a slight increase in group revenues to around Eur5.8b, up from Eur5.7b in the previous year, and a rise in operating profit to a level of more than Eur450m, against Eur403m in the previous year. The boost in earnings will be driven predominantly by the sugar and cropenergies segments. The full interim report for the first half year 2010/11 will be published on October 14th 2010.