With its origins in the late 19th century the Queensland sugar industry played a significant role in the development of many regions along the Queensland coast.

Historically, sugar cane has been grown from Mossman in Far North Queensland to Beenleigh south of Brisbane and, more recently, on the Atherton Tableland, west of Cairns. Sugar cane is also grown in the northern coastal region of New South Wales.
 
The Queensland cane harvesting season typically extends from early June to late November.

In the 2008 season Queensland's cane farmers supplied in excess of 30 million tonnes of sugar cane from which the State's 22 sugar mills produced around 4.3 million tonnes of raw sugar.

The sugar milling process also produces molasses which is sold as stockfeed and bagasse which is used as boiler fuel to produce steam and electricity.

Queensland's sugar industry directly contributes between $1.5 and $2 billion to the State's economy and supports the employment of up to 10,000 people across the growing, harvesting, transport and milling sectors.