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QSL at a glance

Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) is a not-for-profit, pass-through organisation focused on working with our industry partners to create a world-leading Queensland sugarcane industry and flourishing communities.

Established in 2000 to replace the Queensland Sugar Corporation, QSL is Queensland’s leading provider of sugar marketing and terminal services, and employs approximately 170 people at 14 sites around the state.

Owned by Queensland's sugar cane growers and millers, QSL returns all net sale proceeds to the industry we serve.

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 29 members which represent the sugar industry – eight sugar mill owners and 21 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.