Lipetsk region processes 1.2 million tonnes of sugar beet as six plants run campaign
Six sugar plants in Russia's Lipetsk region have processed 1.2 million tonnes of beet from the 2026 crop, producing 153,000 tonnes of sugar and 102,000 tonnes of beet pulp as of 30 September. Digestion stands at 16.59% and sugar yield at 14.17%, while growers have harvested 26% of 118,500 hectares. Retail sugar in the region has risen from 65 to 76 rubles a kilogram.
Six plants, 1.2 million tonnes of beet
Sugar factories in Russia's Lipetsk region have processed 1.2 million tonnes of sugar beet from the 2026 crop as the regional processing campaign continues. Six plants are in operation, keeping output of sugar and by-products running steadily.
As of the morning of 30 September the region's plants had produced 153,000 tonnes of sugar and 102,000 tonnes of beet pulp, Lipetsk Time reported, citing data from the Union of Sugar Producers of Russia. Sugar from Lipetsk goes either to packing lines or to industrial food users, while the pulp is sold as cattle feed.
The region finished last year second in Russia by sugar output and first by production of dried beet pulp, according to Lipetsk Time. That standing rests on an unusual concentration of capacity: six working plants inside a single region, supplied by a beet crop now being lifted across 17 municipalities.
Beet quality better than feared
Sugar content at the region's plants — digestion, in processing terms — reached 16.59%, and the actual sugar yield 14.17%, on data from the Union of Sugar Producers of Russia. Both readings refer to 21 September.
“At the start of this season we had concerns about the sugar content of the beet,” regional agriculture minister Ekaterina Markova said. “But the data we received from the Union of Sugar Producers of Russia is encouraging. As of 21 September this year, digestion — or in other words the sugar content of the beet — stands at 16.59% at our plants. A level above 14% is already good. We hope sugar content will only keep rising.” Markova added that the 14.17% sugar yield placed the region fourth in Russia on that measure as of 21 September.
Harvest only a quarter complete
Growers have lifted 1.3 million tonnes of sugar beet so far. The crop covers 118,500 hectares this season, and 26% of that area has been harvested, with work under way in 17 municipalities as producers make use of favourable weather.
- Beet processed: 1.2 million tonnes
- Beet harvested: 1.3 million tonnes
- Sugar produced: 153,000 tonnes
- Beet pulp produced: 102,000 tonnes
- Digestion 16.59%, sugar yield 14.17%
- Area 118,500 hectares, 26% harvested
The narrow gap between 1.3 million tonnes harvested and 1.2 million tonnes processed indicates that plants are taking beet close to the pace at which it leaves the field, limiting storage losses. With roughly three quarters of the area still standing, the bulk of the campaign's volume is ahead.
Retail sugar prices climbing
Sugar is becoming more expensive in the Lipetsk region. A kilogram cost an average of 65 rubles a couple of months ago and now averages 76 rubles — an increase of roughly 17%, arriving at the point in the calendar when new-crop supply normally weighs on prices rather than supporting them.
