Q13 - Agricultural Markets and Marketing; Cooperatives; AgribusinessReturn

This study explores the financial dynamics, strategic growth, and innovation within the sugar production sector in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) over the period 2013–2022. It focuses on six countries—Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and analyzes 14 major sugar-producing companies using a combined methodological approach based on time-series trend analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA).
Key financial metrics such as capital structure, working capital, operating revenue, profitability, and employment are examined to assess differences in performance across firms and countries.
The research is framed by three central questions that investigate the interaction between company size, financial stability, national market context, and development potential.
A major turning point for the sector—the abolition of the EU sugar quota system in autumn 2017—marked the beginning of a fully liberalized market environment, intensifying global competition and reshaping regional production strategies.
The results indicate that larger firms tend to provide financial stability but exhibit limited growth trajectories, while smaller companies are more adaptable and often demonstrate stronger development potential.
National differences are also significant: the Czech Republic and Poland emerge as dynamic and competitive markets; Austria and Germany reflect mature industries with constrained growth prospects; Hungary and Slovakia show financial challenges yet offer opportunities for development.
By identifying structural trends and regional disparities, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the post-quota sugar market. It offers relevant insights for policymakers and industry leaders aiming to balance financial health, innovation, and sustainability in order to ensure the sector’s long-term competitiveness in a volatile global economy.

Cooperatives today are facing difficulties resulting from the disruption of the cooperative system and the global economic crisis. Instead of a vibrant cooperative sector, cooperatives in Nepal are facing increasing financial difficulties that threaten their survival as businesses. Therefore, a study was conducted in the sub-metropolitan town of Tulsipur in Dang district of Nepal to explore practical economic models and types of cooperatives, to use the concept of bio-economy as a great opportunity for rural development, and to find a way to mitigate these negative impacts to restore the sustainable functioning of rural cooperatives in Nepal. Twenty-one agricultural cooperatives were studied through key informant interviews, focus group discussions and semi-structured questionnaires using an interview schedule. Various parameters such as investment, net income, size, liquid assets, interest income, interest expenses and other financial characteristics were used to examine economic sustainability in relation to market linkages and membership strategy. The study broadens the understanding of the existing crisis of cooperatives and the economic sustainability of cooperatives as well as the search for options for their existence. The study also provides an avenue to explore the economic opportunities of agricultural cooperatives in Nepal. Identification of successful bio-economic practices, potential bottlenecks, cooperatives, facilitation of policy dialogues to explore new economic dynamics and enable improved governance and prosperity of local communities are highly recommended for the economic sustainability of agricultural cooperatives.