MAJOR Queensland sugar miller MSF Sugar has backtracked on plans to stop selling molasses to the livestock industry, saying orders can be placed by domestic customers up until May 30.
In a statement issued this morning, MSF Sugar said it remained committed to supplying molasses to the domestic market in 2020.
"MSF Sugar remains committed to supplying molasses to the domestic market at market price," The statement reads.
"However, supplies may be limited. There are various factors which may influence the volume of molasses that MSF Sugar is able to supply, including the tonnage of sugar cane crushed which determines the volume of molasses produced, limited storage capacity, as well as pre-existing orders.
"For these reasons, MSF Sugar is asking molasses customers who wish to be supplied with molasses in 2020 to pre-order by 30 May 2020.
"MSF Sugar will do what it can to satisfy pre-order requests."
As reported by Queensland Country Life, MSF Sugar had advised it would only sell molasses produced during the 2020 crush to cane farmers who supplied their mills, but no one else.
That announcement prompted outrage from livestock producers and feed manufacturers and a call for limits on molasses exports by federal MPs.
Northern MPs Warren Entsch and Senator Susan McDonald said a supply of molasses was essential for the both the dairy and beef industries.
"MSF Sugar has done the right thing by continuing to sell molasses to domestic customers," Mr Entsch said.
This year's cane crush is expected to run from June through to late November.
The Australian Sugar Milling Council said the sugar production is expected to be in the order of 4.1 to 4.2 million tonnes, slightly more than the 4.08mt produced in 2019.
