A Leading Agri-Processing Business

Tongaat Hulett is an agriculture and agri-processing business, focusing on the complementary feedstocks of sugarcane and maize. Its ongoing activities in agriculture have resulted in the company having a substantial land portfolio. Tongaat Hulett's unique skill and competence in the conversion of agricultural land to development, is a key driver of the fundamental shift in the pace and value unlock from the company's land conversion activities and property portfolio. Through its sugar and starch operations, Tongaat Hulett produces a range of refined carbohydrate products from sugarcane and maize, with a number of products being interchangeable. The business's sugar operations are well placed to benefit from evolving dynamics of renewable electricity and ethanol in South Africa, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Tongaat Hulett's long-standing and deep appreciation of the socio-economic profile of the region is an integral component of the business being able to deliver on its strategic objectives.

Sugar Operations

The company's South African sugar operations, on the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) north coast and in the Zululand region, operate four sugar mills at Maidstone, Darnall, Amatikulu and Felixton. These mills have an installed capacity to crush more than 8,5 million tons of cane per annum, which is equivalent to over one million tons of raw sugar. Cane supplies come from a combination of own estates (predominately rainfed), large-scale commercial and small-scale farmers in rural KZN. The operation's central refinery in Durban produces some 600 000 tons of high quality refined sugar per annum, with the primary product being the leading Huletts® brand. The South African sugar product range offers a total sweetener solution including a range of high-intensity sweeteners.

The animal feeds operation, Voermol Feeds, is located at the Maidstone mill in Tongaat, KZN.  Tongaat Hulett manufactures and markets a range of energy and supplementary feeds to the livestock farming community through its Voermol® brand, using bagasse and molasses. Voermol Feeds is the market leader in the molasses and pith-based animal feeds industry in South Africa.

The Mozambique sugar operations comprise the expanded sugar mills and estates surrounding Xinavane and Mafambisse. The operations have a combined installed milling capacity in excess of 330 000 tons of sugar per annum. The favourable agricultural conditions, close proximity to ports, and the technical support from South Africa, position the Mozambique operations well for further growth.

The sugar operations in Zimbabwe consist of Triangle and a 50,3 percent stake in Hippo Valley Estates. The total refined sugar installed capacity is 140 000 tons and the Triangle ethanol plant has an installed capacity of 40 million litres over a 48-week production season. The Huletts Sunsweet® brand is the leading sugar brand in the county.

The Tambankulu sugarcane estate in Swaziland comprises 3 838 hectares of fully irrigated estates. The estates have consistently achieved excellent sucrose yields and deliver cane to the nearby Simunye and Mhlume sugar mills. The estates have the capacity to produce a Raw Sugar Equivalent (RSE) of 61 000 tons per annum.

The Namibian operation has the capacity to pack and distribute 80 000 tons of sugar per annum.  In Botswana, Tongaat Hulett has a 60 000 tons per annum packing and distribution operation.  Tongaat Hulett will benefit from future growth in consumption in Botswana and Namibia with its leading Blue Crystal® and Marathon® brands.