Thursday, May 1, 2025

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Nominations Open For Managed Pool Plus Simon Hood Wilmar Manager Grower Marketing

Following the successful launch of our Managed Pool Plus for the 2025 season, we’re pleased to announce that we’re opening nominations earlier for the 2026 season.

Nominations for the Managed Pool Plus open on 1 May and close on 30 June 2025.

We’ve seen strong interest from growers who have experienced a couple of volatile seasons with unpredictable target pricing and are now seeking to share some of that pricing responsibility with Wilmar.

The enhanced Managed Pool Plus aligns grower exposure with miller exposure, creating a balanced risk profile.

Wilmar will contribute 30,000 tonnes of MEI sugar to the pool and will accept grower GEI nominations up to the same volume, ensuring a 1:1 exposure ratio in the final price outcome.

Our global marketing team will manage the pricing exposure throughout the life of the pool which, for the 2026 season, will be extended to two years.

This is an actively managed pool, meaning our team will strategically take positions on futures and currency markets, rather than simply following a passive, incremental hedging strategy. For example, the recent drop in the AUD below 60 cents allowed the 2025 pool to secure favourable currency rates.

While this strategy offers the potential for improved returns, it also carries increased risk.

If you’re interested in learning how the Managed Pool Plus might support your pricing strategy, please reach out to your local Grower Marketing team representative.

In other news, I am pleased to welcome Jonathan Reichard to the Wilmar Grower Marketing team, based at the Plane Creek Mill. Jonathan lives in Mackay and has most recently been working with Canegrowers Mackay.

Like most locals, there is only one degree of separation with most of the cane growing community. Jonathan is keen to dive into the complexity of sugar pricing and is looking forward to getting out on farm as soon as possible to understand your marketing needs.

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