Sugar manufacturing has delivered a sweet contribution to the Queensland economy with a $2.3billion direct spending injection in 2020/21.
A new report prepared for the Australian Sugar Milling Council shows sugar manufacturing also directly employed more than 3700 Queenslanders.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the industry was an important part of the agricultural landscape of the state.
"Queensland has a great sugar producing reputation that is known across the globe, and that reputation has been hard-won by those who drive the industry year in, year out," Mr Furner said.
"This is an important industry for our state. Agriculture is an essential industry in Queensland and a critical part of the state's COVID-19 economic recovery plan.
"With more than 1300 jobs in North Queensland, more than 1000 in the Mackay region, more than 760 in Far North Queensland and 590 in the Wide Bay-Burnett region, sugar continues to play a key role in our regional economies."
The direct economic impact included:
- $1.3b in cane purchases from more than 3150 enterprises;
- $565.6m in purchases of goods and services from local businesses; and
- $336.7m in salaries and wages.
The report found that when the broader economic impact was taken into account the industry was responsible for a further $1.5billion in economic activity.
"$3.8billion in economic activity is nothing to sneeze at, and I expect the industry will enjoy another bumper year when we see updated figures for 2021/22," Mr Furner said.
"That means thousands of jobs and export dollars for our state."
Australian Sugar Milling Council Chief Executive Officer Rachele Sheard said the report demonstrated the resilience of the sugar industry and the enormous contribution it made to the Queensland economy and to thousands of Queensland families.
"The sugar industry has continued to deliver a positive economic contribution and job certainty amid a global pandemic and challenging international trading and growing conditions," Ms Sheard said.
"The sugar industry's contribution of $3.8 billion to the Queensland economy is equivalent to a $10 million injection every day."
"The report shows the economic contribution of the sugar industry extends throughout the regions and into south-east Queensland. The industry works with and supports more than 3000 local businesses across the State."
