SUCRE OCEANE and HAROPA - Port of Le Havre inaugurate today a new sugar silo. This long-awaited event which takes place a few days after the withdrawal of the European quotas on export of beet sugar, marks a capital step in the development of the trade in Le Havre. The opening of the market of beet sugar as from October 1st has been anticipated by the operator SUCRE OCEANE who takes the opportunity of the withdrawal of the quotas to increase its storage and processing capacity on export. This expert in sugar logistics, a subsidiary of SHGT and EUROPORTS, has thus invested 13 million euros to build a 15,000-ton silo and completely upgrades the site, located in the heart of the port of Le Havre, chaussée Hermann Du Pasquier, near three other silos with the same capacity. Operational as from October 1st and officially inaugurated on October 31st, the silo increases the overall sugar storage capacity of the Havre port terminal; it also makes it possible to create 25 direct jobs. According to Guillaume BLANCHARD, SHGT President, “the liberalization of the European sugar market is an opportunity for our customers to serve new markets and resume overseas export. Extending our storage and transit capacity will enable us to meet these opportunities of growth ; we will handle up to 140,000 tons of sugar for this season, that is 6,000 TEU exported from the port of Le Havre.” Connected to all major shipping lines with weekly departures,the facilities of SUCRE OCEANE situated in the port of Le Havre are supplied by road and rail. SUCRE OCEANE, which has meanwhile started to upgrade its industrial processes, sees to it that the facilities meet the strictest quality standards; the installations have several certificates (HACCP quality system, Food Safety System Certification 22 000 (FSSC 22000) and SUCRE OCEANE is full AEO approved (Authorized Economic Operator). These requirements echo those that French sugar producers have made it a rule to do, as they are renowned for producing a top-quality sugar in terms of traceability and health quality. Emmanuèle PERRON, Chairwoman of HAROPA - Port of Le Havre, is pleased about the first economic repercussions resulting from the opening of this market: “the liberalization of the European market gives momentum to exports and offers France, the first world producer of beet sugar, huge new business prospects. That’s why, in Le Havre, the end of the quotas enables SUCRE OCEANE, an essential stakeholder of this industrial trade, to develop its business by building this fourth silo dedicated to the export of sugar in containers. Our country, our region, our city and our port are delighted that SUCRE OCEANE could have anticipated this growth opportunity choosing to invest in our area.” The Port of Le Havre, a major transit point for export of sugar in containers In 2016, 14,000 TEU of sugar were handled in Le Havre of which 63% on export. The Norman port has stakes that enable it to remain the leading port in France for this fast-expanding trade:
  • Its being close to the sugar plants in the North of France, which are mainly turned towards export
  • Its strategic position as the 1st port of call on import in Northern Europe and the last port of call on export provides competitive transit times
  • Its outstanding nautical conditions which give the world largest containerships a round-the-clock accessibility, 7 days a week, with no tidal constraint