Mexican sugar producer Grupo Azucarero Mexico (GAM) has said that a judge has ordered the return of three of its sugar mills, which were seized by the government in September 2001 when the industry was facing financial difficulties.

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The Mexican government seized 27 mills from several sugar groups when sugar cane growers went on strike because some mill owners were behind by as much as a year on payments to growers, reported Reuters.

GAM said the judge had ruled in favour of the company’s appeal and ordered the three mills to be returned.

Mexico’s agriculture ministry said it would appeal the new ruling.

GAM had originally had five mills seized by the government, but the company opted not to appeal the seizure of two of them.

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Three other sugar producers, Grupo Santos, Grupo Machado and Grupo Azucarero Escorpion, have previously won initial cases appealing against the seizure of their mills, but the mills have yet to be returned.

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