The sugar industry has defied COVID-related disruptions, unfavourable weather conditions and poor recent sugar prices, according to a new report commissioned by the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC).
The independent analysis has revealed that the Queensland sugar industry contributed $3.8 billion in Gross Regional Product and 19,673 direct and indirect jobs to the Queensland economy in 2020-21.
This is an update on the analysis previously completed in 2017/18.
The report, by respected analyst Lawrence Consulting, found the sugar industry had an almost identical spend in 2020/21 as it did in 2017/18 ($2.3 billion).
With 91% of this spend occurring in Queensland, the commitment of the mills and their suppliers and workers to Queensland is also easy to see.
To hear the stories of local business owners who supply the mills with goods and services, please access the following link.
How are the numbers calculated?
Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) members and Bundaberg Sugar Limited provided details of their 2020-21 spend by postcode.
This direct spend was mapped and aggregated at four spatial levels – statistical divisions, local governments, and state and federal electorates. Direct spending included everything expended on mill inputs, worker wages, cane, community contributions and government taxes and charges.
And because the socio-economic contribution does not end there, additional ‘flow-on’ or ‘indirect’ benefits were calculated. The total direct and indirect employment and Gross Regional Product contribution at each of these four levels was also estimated.
To understand the industry’s full economic contribution at the state and at various regional levels, please access the following links.Lawrence Consulting economic report
Economic contribution (Australia) infographic
Economic contribution (Queensland level) infographic
Economic contribution (local government level) infographics
Economic contribution (state electorate level) infographicEconomic contribution (federal electorate level) infographics
