UPDATE 1-French sugar beet growers expect 2.5% harvest increase

(Adds detail) PARIS, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Sugar beet production in France is expected to reach 32.4 million metric tons this year, up from 31.6 million in 2023 due to a larger area and despite yields falling to a 17-year low owing to adverse weather, growers group CGB said on Wednesday. The CGB's projection for the ongoing harvest was well below the French farm ministry's latest forecast of 33.7 million tons, based on estimates by Nov. 1. Development of the 2024 crop was disrupted by repeated rains from sowing to harvesting, a lack of sunshine and leaf diseases. The estimated average yield of 79 tons per hectare (t/ha) was projected to fall below 80 t/ha for the first time since 2007 and is down from 83 t/ha last year and a five-year average of 81.1 t/ha, the CGB told reporters. Estimates are based on sugar content of 16%. Sugar production from the crop was expected at 3.9 million tons in the 2024/25 season, up from 3.7 million tons for 2023/24, while total alcohol and ethanol output was forecast to fall to 8 million hectolitres from 8.4 million tons last season, the CGB said. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide Editing by David Goodman) (([email protected]; +336 8774 4148;))