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Sugars & Sweets
Sell offers and buy requests for Sugars & Sweets, posted by companies and agreed directly between them.
About Sugars & Sweets trade
The sugar trade covers raw cane sugar, refined white sugar, molasses and sweeteners. Refineries buy raw sugar, food and beverage manufacturers buy refined sugar, and traders move large lots from producers such as Brazil, India and Thailand to importing regions. Sugar is graded by colour, measured in ICUMSA units.
Products
Sugar (Raw & Refined, ICUMSA 45) · Molasses
Bulk Sugars & Sweets offers: FOB, CFR and CIF terms available
Post a Listing
Country guides: Sugar suppliers: top countries
Who trades Sugars & Sweets in the world
Looking at the 2 products of this group together, the largest exporting countries in 2024 were Brazil, Thailand, India, France, and the largest importing countries were Indonesia, United States, Saudi Arabia, China. Open a product to see the figures for that product alone.
| Top exporting countries | Trade value |
|---|---|
| Brazil | USD 20.5 billion |
| Thailand | USD 2.6 billion |
| India | USD 2.2 billion |
| France | USD 1.7 billion |
| Australia | USD 1.7 billion |
| Germany | USD 1.4 billion |
| Top importing countries | Trade value |
|---|---|
| Indonesia | USD 2.8 billion |
| United States | USD 2.6 billion |
| Saudi Arabia | USD 2.1 billion |
| China | USD 1.8 billion |
| India | USD 1.7 billion |
| United Arab Emirates | USD 1.3 billion |
Source: OEC (BACI/CEPII), 2024. Sums of the main trading countries of each product in the group; by every mode of transport, not only by sea.
How Sugars & Sweets is shipped
Raw sugar usually travels in bulk carriers; refined sugar travels in bags, containers or bulk. Molasses is a liquid and travels in tankers or in flexitanks. Sugar is hygroscopic, so the cargo must stay dry on board.
What buyers and sellers compare
The key terms are the ICUMSA colour grade (for example ICUMSA 45 for white sugar), polarisation, moisture and ash. Buyers also compare the origin, the packing, the loading period and the inspection company. Sweeteners such as glucose syrup follow their own specification, so the grade and the packing should be written into the contract.
When the terms are agreed, you can explore suitable vessels on Shipfixing.
Questions about Sugars & Sweets
What does ICUMSA 45 mean?
ICUMSA is the international scale for the colour of sugar. A lower number means a whiter sugar, and ICUMSA 45 is the common grade for white refined sugar.
Is raw sugar sold in bulk?
Yes. Raw sugar is normally traded and shipped in bulk, while refined sugar is often bagged.