1 Ratio of net debt to total equity.
2 Average number of full-time equivalents in the reporting period.
We have already reported in the course of the past year on the implementation of steps under AGRANA NEXT LEVEL: the termination of sugar production at the sites in Leopoldsdorf, Austria, and Hrušovany, Czech Republic, at the beginning of the financial year with the aim of ensuring the stability and sustainability of the Group's sugar production.
The decision to close those two sugar production sites was a difficult but necessary one. It was based on a comprehensive assessment of the economic and regulatory environment. The combined impact of rising production costs, increasing competitive pressure due to declining sugar consumption in the EU, market liberalisation (Mercosur and Ukraine) as well as regulatory requirements meant that it was no longer economically viable to continue production at two sites each in Austria and the Czech Republic. As regrettable as these necessary measures were for those directly affected, they are key to AGRANA’s future direction and central to ensuring the stability and long-term viability of sugar production.
From the acquisition at the end of May 2025 of all remaining shares in AUSTRIA JUICE GmbH held by RWA Raiffeisen Ware Austria AG. Since the closing of this share purchase in mid-October 2025, we have been able to begin the integration of the beverage bases and flavours business into the new Food & Beverage Solutions business area. As well, in summer 2025 we acquired the Slovenian food company Mercator-Emba to tap into additional markets and new customer segments in the growing food service business, and received the necessary antitrust approval at the end of March 2026. An important milestone for certainty of planning in the ACS – Sugar segment was the agreement reached with the Austrian sugar beet growers’ association on beet production contract terms for the next three years. Through constructive negotiations, a new pricing model was developed that reflects the current realities of a challenging market environment with persistently low sugar sales prices and is intended to secure the raw material supply for our site in Tulln, Austria, on a sustained basis.
These were the more outwardly visible achievements of the past financial year, but we would like to emphasise that numerous other activities have been taking place behind the scenes to help achieve the objectives of AGRANA NEXT LEVEL: By bringing our activities together into the two strategic business areas of Agricultural Commodities & Specialities (ACS) and Food & Beverage Solutions (FBS), we have created structural clarity and laid the foundation for closer internal collaboration and the raising of existing synergies. This has already enabled the first (central) functions to be consolidated within the Group and across the business areas. Thanks to the teamwork and dedication of colleagues at all levels, we have already achieved sustainable savings of over € 80 million in the 2025|26 financial year with our “Horizon” cost-reduction initiative. The largest share of this was achieved through operational efficiencies, including in the areas of logistics, materials and services, and raw materials.
The AGRANA climate strategy is an integral element of AGRANA NEXT LEVEL. We continue to target net-zero emissions by 2040 for Scope 1 and 2, and by 2050 at the latest for Scope 3. This commitment is both part of our social responsibility and a strategic prerequisite for long-term competitiveness.
The increasingly frequent weather extremes such as droughts and torrential rains underscore the importance of consistently combating climate change and further reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, both as a society and a company. To meet the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement, AGRANA is expected to invest approximately € 485.4 million in sustainable technologies and energy efficiency measures by 2040, based on current estimates. As part of this effort, the coal-fired boiler system at the Opava site was successfully replaced with a natural gas-fired steam boiler during the reporting year. This resulted in emission savings of 25,000 tonnes of CO2e at this site. Scope 1 emissions were reduced from 600,032 to 467,720 tonnes of CO2, corresponding to a reduction of 4.6%. We also plan to further strengthen and advance our collaboration, particularly with suppliers and customers, through long-term partnerships to promote climate-resilient business models.
In June 2025, AGRANA was once again added to the VÖNIX – the VBV Austrian Sustainability Index, which tracks listed Austrian companies that stand out for their activities in corporate sustainability. We see this as confirmation that our sustainability efforts are also recognised in the capital markets.
