Sugar Exports by Country

Sugar exports by country during 2017 totaled US$27.6 billion, down by an average -14.3% for all sugar shippers over the five-year period starting in 2013 when sugar shipments were valued at $32.2 billion. Year over year, the value of global sugar exports appreciated by 1.8% from 2016 to 2017. 

Among continents, Latin America (excluding Mexico) plus the Caribbean accounted for the highest dollar value worth of sugar exports during 2017 with shipments amounting to $14.3 billion or 51.8% of global sugar shipments. European countries were responsible for 19.5% followed by Asian suppliers at 18.1%. Smaller percentages came from Africa (7%), North America excluding Mexico (2.9%) and Oceania led by Australia (0.7%). 

The 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 1701 for cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose in solid form. 

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2017. 

Brazil: US$11.4 billion (41.3% of total sugar exports) 

Thailand: $2.6 billion (9.4%) 

France: $1.3 billion (4.9%) 

Guatemala: $826.2 million (3%) 

Germany: $743.3 million (2.7%) 

Mexico: $664.8 million (2.4%) 

India: $661.8 million (2.4%) 

Cuba: $554.7 million (2%) 

Belgium: $461.4 million (1.7%) 

Netherlands: $394.2 million (1.4%) 

United Arab Emirates: $393 million (1.4%) 

Colombia: $378.2 million (1.4%) 

Poland: $361.7 million (1.3%) 

Pakistan: $344.6 million (1.2%) 

Swaziland: $312.4 million (1.1%) 

The listed 15 countries shipped 77.7% of all sugar exports in 2017 (by value). 

Four countries grew the value of their sugar exporters since 2013: Netherlands (up 22%), Cuba (up 19.3%), Colombia (up 15.6%) and Germany (up 0.7%). 

Mexico led the decliners with a -49% setback in the value of its sugar exports, followed by United Arab Emirates (down -43.3%), India (down -31.5%), Pakistan (-30%) and Swaziland (down -18.8%).