Key facts about QSL:
- A not-for-profit organisation serving the interests of growers and millers for the long-term prosperity of the Queensland sugar industry
- Owned by its members, with net sale proceeds returned to those who choose to use its services
Company structure and activities:
- A public company limited by guarantee, incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001
- Employs around 160 people, approximately 120 based in regional Queensland
- Governed by an independent Board of Directors
- Has 30 members which represent the sugar industry – seven sugar mill owners and 23 grower representative members (including two industry association representatives)
- 3 divisions: QSL Marketing, QSL Operations & QSL Corporate Services
QSL Marketing
- Maximising marketing returns for participating Queensland cane growers and sugar millers by optimising sugar sales timing and customer premiums
- Provision of a wide range of pricing services underpinned by QSL's extensive knowledge, expertise and experience in managing futures markets
- Provision of low-cost financing through a number of advance payment options
QSL Operations
- Managing six Bulk Sugar Terminals at Cairns, Mourilyan, Townsville, Lucinda, Mackay and Bundaberg under a Strategic Operating Agreement with STL
- Processing around 45,000 truck and 2,300 rail deliveries of raw sugar each year
- Loading approximately 100 ships per annum.
QSL Corporate Services
- A stand-alone function providing corporate support services to QSL's Marketing and Operations divisions
- Provides support with finance and accounting, legal and governance, people and culture, environment, health and safety, IT, and external communications.
Company history:
1923: Sugar Board established
1991: Queensland Sugar Corporation (QSC) established as a statutory authority
2000: QSL established to replace QSC as the exclusive marketer of Queensland raw sugar and ownership of export terminals moved to Sugar Terminals Ltd (STL)
2006: Statutory restrictions on sugar marketing removed and QSL operates based on voluntary contracts with millers
2009: Independent Board of Directors starts at QSL
2014: Wilmar, MSF Sugar and Tully Sugar announce they will withdraw from the QSL marketing system
2015: The Queensland Government introduces the Sugar Industry (Real Choice in Marketing) Amendment Act, giving Queensland growers choice in marketing
2016: New Bulk Sugar Terminal Operating model agreed with Sugar Terminals Limited (STL), where terminal users (including QSL) will contract directly with STL, and a new QSL Operations division will manage the terminals
2016: First On-Supply Agreement signed with Queensland sugar miller (MSF Sugar);
2017: QSL divides its operations into 3 divisions - QSL Marketing, QSL Operations and QSL Corporate Services - and signs an Operating Agreement with STL to manage its six bulk sugar terminals
2017: The Federal Sugar Code of Conduct is introduced and Marketing Choice is implemented. QSL beings a new era of dealing directly with the growers it represents, signing its first Grower Pricing Agreements with growers and making its first payments directly to contracted growers.