Sugar crisis meets Leopoldsdorf: closure of the Agrana factory announced!

Sugar crisis meets Leopoldsdorf: closure of the Agrana factory announced!

A difficult blow for the sugar industry: The Agrana sugar factory in Leopoldsdorf is considered unretible and its closure was officially announced on Wednesday. This means that numerous employees face an uncertain future. The Pro-Ge union already calls for urgent measures and speaks of the need for a "socially acceptable plan" to secure jobs. Pro-Ge boss Reinhold Binder emphasized that talks with the head of the group to find solutions are in full swing, as 5min.at

The sugar factory had been struggling with a decline in the beetary quantities for years. A glimmer of hope appeared in autumn 2020 when a "sugar pact" between Agrana, the Ministry of Agriculture and the beet farmers was closed to support production. But these measures were not sufficient, and the economic profitability of the location could not be ensured. Agriculture Minister Norbert Tettschnig (ÖVP) sees domestic sugar production by overproduction in Europe, duty -free import rates from Ukraine and stricter crop protection regulations. However, he emphasizes the importance of self -sufficiency with Austrian sugar, so noe.orf.at .

This is particularly bitter for the employees and the Leopoldsdorf region, which rely on the sugar factory. A year ago, Agrana CEO Stephan Büttner assured that the location was not at the disposition. Now the fate of the work is sealed, and the question of how the employees concerned will continue remains open.