Sugar Market Outlook 2015 to 2020 Tops Platts' Kingsman Dubai Sugar Conference

- Features tour of world's largest stand-alone refinery, Al Khaleej

- Workshop on matters of force majeure, international trade agreement disputes, pricing methodology

LONDON and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Outlook, trader debates and refining updates will be center stage at the 11th annual Kingsman Dubai Sugar Conference, a renowned event in the world of sugar trading, to be held January 31^st through February 3^rd, 2015.

"We're pleased to once again provide a platform and venue for critical debate of the sugar market's immediate and longer-term outlook," said Daniel Lawson, head of European conference production at Platts, a leading global provider of agriculture, energy, petrochemicals and metals information and host of the event.  

More than 30 speakers, representing producers, importers, investment bankers, shipping companies, traders, analysts and associations will offer views on sugar production by country, regional and global trade agreements, competition in ethanol, what's ahead to 2020, and market pricing.

"While the sugar market appears relatively balanced, it's this balance that observers suggest could make the market in 2015 more reactive to any disruptions in supply or demand," said Tim Worledge, Platts global associate editorial director of agriculture.  

In addition to weather in Brazil, supply and demand surprises could spring from such factors as how aggressively countries divert sucrose to ethanol, the degree of enforcement of China's out-of-quota import caps, any change to the profitability of carrying sugar, and any improvement in Brazil's mill indebtedness, according to the January 2, 2015, Platts' Kingsman Friday Sugar Editorial.

"Finally, Brazil's government is taking steps to help the domestic sugar cane industry; steps, which combined, should increase demand for ethanol and may mean a reduction in sugar supply," said Jonathan Kingsman, consultant to Platts and founder of Kingsman. "First, it has raised taxes on gasoline and Petrobras has said that despite the fall in world oil prices it will pass on the increase to domestic motorists. Second, the government is expected on 2^nd February to announce an increase in the ethanol content of gasoline from 25% to 27%. At the same time, sugar growers in other parts of the world finally seem to be getting the price signals to reduce production. All this may make 2015 a pivotal, critical year for the global sugar industry."