Overall spending on sugar imports for all buying countries accelerated by an average 76.8% compared to 2019 when global sugar purchases totaled $22.5 billion.
Year over year, payments for sugar imports rose by an average 8.9% from $36.5 billion during 2022.
The 5 biggest importers of sugar are Indonesia, United States of America, mainland China, Italy and India. Combined, that quintet of major sugar importers purchased over one-quarter (26.4%) of the worldwide total for 2023.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries bought the highest dollar worth of imported sugar during 2023 with purchases valued at $17.8 billion or 44.7% of the world total. In second place were importers in Europe at 21% while another 20.9% of globally imported sugar went to buyers located in Africa.
North American nations took delivery of 9.2% of sugar imports, trailed by Latin America (3.6%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.6%) led by New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for sugar is 1701. That code prefix includes solid-form cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose.
Sugar Imports by Country
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2023.
- Indonesia: US$2.9 billion (7.2% of total sugar imports)
- United States: $2.5 billion (6.2%)
- mainland China: $2.3 billion (5.8%)
- Italy: $1.5 billion (3.7%)
- India: $1.4 billion (3.4%)
- Spain: $1.3 billion (3.3%)
- Malaysia: $1.2 billion (3%)
- Bangladesh: $1.1 billion (2.7%)
- South Korea: $1 billion (2.6%)
- Morocco: $997.1 million (2.5%)
- Nigeria: $981.1 million (2.5%)
- Algeria: $931.8 million (2.3%)
- Saudi Arabia: $857.4 million (2.2%)
- Canada: $810.6 million (2%)
- Japan: $779.4 million (2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 51.4% of all sugar imported in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for sugar from 2022 to 2023 were: India (up 443.4%), Italy (up 52.7%), Spain (up 51.3%) and Malaysia (up 36.9%).
Three top buyer countries posted declines in their imported sugar purchases: mainland China (down -10% from 2022), Saudi Arabia (down -9.4%) and Indonesia (down -3.9%).
Sugar Imports into Indonesia
Below are the suppliers from which Indonesia imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Thailand: US$1.3 billion (up 5.7% from 2022)
- Brazil: $887 million (up 38%)
- Australia: $512.5 million (up 59.5%)
- India: $177.8 million (down -78.2%)
- Vietnam: $9.1 million (up 37879.2%)
- Malaysia: $4 million (2022 data unavailable)
- South Korea: $3.7 million (down -1.7%)
- Pakistan: $745,000 (2022 data unavailable)
- Germany: $738,000 (up 15%)
- Belgium: $8,000 (2022 data unavailable)
- United States of America: $1,000 (down -96%)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of sugar imported by Indonesia in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Indonesia from 2022 to 2023 were: Vietnam (up 37,879%), Australia (up 59.5%), Brazil (up 38%) and Germany (up 15%).
Overall, the value of Indonesia’s imported sugar fell by an average -3.9% from all supplying countries since 2022 when sugar purchased cost $3 billion.
Sugar Imports into the United States
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which America imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Mexico: US$805.7 million (down -12.7% from 2022)
- Brazil: $543.4 million (up 178.8%)
- Guatemala: $157.2 million (down -4.8%)
- Colombia: $150.1 million (up 32.1%)
- Dominican Republic: $131.9 million (down -14.6%)
- El Salvador: $110.0 million (down -9.8%)
- Australia: $85.0 million (up 7.9%)
- Costa Rica: $61.0 million (down -32.4%)
- Argentina: $54.8 million (up 51.5%)
- South Africa: $35.9 million (up 20.4%)
- Nicaragua: $32.4 million (down -27.4%)
- Honduras: $29.1 million (up 25.1%)
- Paraguay: $27.4 million (down -47.8%)
- India: $26.6 million (up 185.6%)
- Eswatini: $24.9 million (up 445.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.9% of sugar imported by the United States of America in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to the United States from 2022 to 2023 were: Eswatini (up 445.7%), India (up 185.6%), Brazil (up 178.8%) and Argentina (up 51.5%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to American importers included: Paraguay (down -47.8% from 2022), Costa Rica (down -32.4%), Nicaragua (down -27.4%) and the Dominican Republic (down -14.6%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported sugar went up by an average 8.8% from all supplying countries since 2022 when sugar purchased cost $2.3 billion.
Sugar Imports into China
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which mainland China imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Brazil: US$1.9 billion (down -3.2% from 2022)
- South Korea: $115.3 million (up 20.2%)
- India: $95.6 million (down -28.4%)
- Thailand: $83.6 million (down -42.2%)
- Guatemala: $24.2 million (down -56%)
- Pakistan: $18.1 million (up 2695.8%)
- Malaysia: $15 million (up 279.3%)
- Cuba: $13.5 million (down -70.2%)
- Indonesia: $11.6 million (up 412%)
- Saudi Arabia: $5.4 million (up 15.3%)
- Mauritius: $3 million (down -40.7%)
- Germany: $1.6 million (up 118.9%)
- United States of America: $833,000 (down -21.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $542,000 (down -93.1%)
- Vietnam: $423,000 (down -91.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.96% of sugar imported by mainland China in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to China from 2022 to 2023 were: Pakistan (up 2,696%), Indonesia (up 412%), Malaysia (up 279.3%) and Germany (up 118.9%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Chinese importers included: United Arab Emirates (down -93.1% from 2022), Vietnam (down -91.7%), Cuba (down -70.2%) and Guatemala (down -56%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported sugar dropped by an average -10% from all supplying countries since 2022 when sugar purchased cost $2.6 billion.
Sugar Imports into Italy
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Italy imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2023. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2022 to 2023.
- Brazil: US$1.9 billion (down -3.2% from 2022)
- South Korea: $115.3 million (up 20.2%)
- India: $95.6 million (down -28.4%)
- Thailand: $83.6 million (down -42.2%)
- Guatemala: $24.2 million (down -56%)
- Pakistan: $18.1 million (up 2695.8%)
- Malaysia: $15 million (up 279.3%)
- Cuba: $13.5 million (down -70.2%)
- Indonesia: $11.6 million (up 412%)
- Saudi Arabia: $5.4 million (up 15.3%)
- Mauritius: $3 million (down -40.7%)
- Germany: $1.6 million (up 118.9%)
- United States of America: $833,000 (down -21.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: $542,000 (down -93.1%)
- Vietnam: $423,000 (down -91.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.6% of sugar imported by Italy in 2023.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Italy from 2022 to 2023 were: Brazil (up 1,383%), Poland (up 601.6%), Austria (up 183.2%) and the Czech Republic (up 157.2%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Italian importers included: Guatemala (down -45.5% from 2022), Belize (down -44.6%), Mauritius (down -36.4%) and Belgium (down -29.5%).
Overall, the value of Italy’s imported sugar bumped up by an average 32.5% from all supplying countries since 2022 when sugar purchased cost $758 million.
Searchable List of Sugar Importing Countries in 2023
The automated table below showcases the 100 countries spending the most on imported sugar during 2023.
| Rank | Importer | Sugar Imports | 2022-3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Indonesia | $2,881,115,000 | -3.9% |
| 2. | United States | $2,475,590,000 | +8.8% |
| 3. | mainland China | $2,307,224,000 | -10% |
| 4. | Italy | $1,464,745,000 | +52.7% |
| 5. | India | $1,365,424,000 | +443.4% |
| 6. | Spain | $1,300,303,000 | +51.3% |
| 7. | Malaysia | $1,199,800,000 | +36.9% |
| 8. | Bangladesh | $1,069,733,000 | +9.9% |
| 9. | South Korea | $1,026,314,000 | +5% |
| 10. | Morocco | $997,098,000 | +27.4% |
| 11. | Nigeria | $981,053,000 | +16.2% |
| 12. | Algeria | $931,791,000 | +20.5% |
| 13. | Saudi Arabia | $857,421,000 | -9.4% |
| 14. | Canada | $810,576,000 | +28.8% |
| 15. | Japan | $779,369,000 | +29.5% |
| 16. | United Kingdom | $731,726,000 | +91% |
| 17. | Sudan | $721,148,000 | -27.1% |
| 18. | United Arab Emirates | $678,363,000 | +16.6% |
| 19. | Iraq | $645,161,000 | +18.5% |
| 20. | Belgium | $629,342,000 | +45.9% |
| 21. | Egypt | $624,334,000 | +8.9% |
| 22. | Germany | $526,171,000 | +77.1% |
| 23. | Philippines | $505,905,000 | +90.3% |
| 24. | Yemen | $450,464,000 | +47.9% |
| 25. | Sri Lanka | $424,681,000 | +75.8% |
| 26. | Kenya | $391,059,000 | +92.2% |
| 27. | Somalia | $391,001,000 | -7.1% |
| 28. | Romania | $389,501,000 | +26.9% |
| 29. | Chile | $388,553,000 | -37.8% |
| 30. | Taiwan | $380,502,000 | +26.3% |
| 31. | Mexico | $370,631,000 | +3441% |
| 32. | France | $331,350,000 | +34.3% |
| 33. | Djibouti | $320,598,000 | +6.2% |
| 34. | Portugal | $310,761,000 | +36.3% |
| 35. | Kazakhstan | $294,635,000 | -19.9% |
| 36. | Netherlands | $289,432,000 | +38.4% |
| 37. | Ethiopia | $277,703,000 | -51.9% |
| 38. | South Africa | $273,586,000 | +18.9% |
| 39. | Israel | $270,630,000 | +17% |
| 40. | Greece | $260,172,000 | +3% |
| 41. | Hungary | $248,462,000 | +42.5% |
| 42. | Türkiye | $247,870,000 | -44.4% |
| 43. | Mauritania | $245,281,000 | -17.6% |
| 44. | Tunisia | $242,510,000 | +50% |
| 45. | Laos | $242,087,000 | -3.3% |
| 46. | Vietnam | $241,736,000 | -62.9% |
| 47. | Austria | $238,505,000 | +79.6% |
| 48. | Libya | $223,197,000 | +5.2% |
| 49. | Thailand | $192,543,000 | +206.3% |
| 50. | Peru | $192,311,000 | +5.9% |
| 51. | Bulgaria | $190,532,000 | +1.5% |
| 52. | Azerbaijan | $184,921,000 | +5.3% |
| 53. | Poland | $179,542,000 | -13.5% |
| 54. | Colombia | $177,786,000 | +19.3% |
| 55. | Tanzania | $177,602,000 | -0.8% |
| 56. | Cameroon | $166,127,000 | +50.7% |
| 57. | Iran | $162,053,000 | -75.4% |
| 58. | Venezuela | $160,739,000 | -35.4% |
| 59. | Ghana | $158,229,000 | +3.9% |
| 60. | Singapore | $155,419,000 | -4.6% |
| 61. | Lebanon | $154,851,000 | +39.6% |
| 62. | New Zealand | $150,774,000 | +32.4% |
| 63. | Senegal | $149,697,000 | +41.2% |
| 64. | Uzbekistan | $141,421,000 | -72.8% |
| 65. | Ireland | $129,269,000 | +79.4% |
| 66. | Guinea | $124,586,000 | +24.8% |
| 67. | Croatia | $122,156,000 | +85.3% |
| 68. | Ecuador | $121,280,000 | +216.8% |
| 69. | Haiti | $112,709,000 | +42.4% |
| 70. | Hong Kong | $108,494,000 | +10.4% |
| 71. | Slovenia | $108,363,000 | +53.4% |
| 72. | Georgia | $99,699,000 | +11.5% |
| 73. | Czech Republic | $96,271,000 | +20.4% |
| 74. | Norway | $93,455,000 | +24.8% |
| 75. | Madagascar | $87,380,000 | +68.5% |
| 76. | Zimbabwe | $84,968,000 | +308.8% |
| 77. | Switzerland | $79,723,000 | +25.5% |
| 78. | Syria | $77,904,000 | -26.9% |
| 79. | Namibia | $77,515,000 | -14% |
| 80. | Finland | $75,609,000 | +37% |
| 81. | Mauritius | $75,363,000 | +21% |
| 82. | Slovakia | $74,916,000 | +46.5% |
| 83. | Ivory Coast | $73,162,000 | +15% |
| 84. | Cambodia | $70,049,000 | +32.9% |
| 85. | North Korea | $69,333,000 | +146.8% |
| 86. | Democratic Rep. Congo | $69,182,000 | +31.9% |
| 87. | Palestine | $67,119,000 | +37.3% |
| 88. | Dominican Republic | $65,166,000 | +638.4% |
| 89. | Burkina Faso | $64,520,000 | +143.4% |
| 90. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $61,224,000 | -37.1% |
| 91. | Botswana | $57,246,000 | -59.7% |
| 92. | Sweden | $56,727,000 | +48.8% |
| 93. | North Macedonia | $53,388,000 | +17.1% |
| 94. | Denmark | $50,613,000 | +27.5% |
| 95. | Kuwait | $46,093,000 | -42.1% |
| 96. | Uruguay | $45,521,000 | -5.1% |
| 97. | Latvia | $45,464,000 | +19.2% |
| 98. | Togo | $44,610,000 | +1% |
| 99. | Russia | $44,552,000 | -85% |
| 100. | Angola | $44,184,000 | -72.8% |
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2022 data was available.
Major Importers of Sugar Ranked by Shipment Weight
Highlighted below are countries listed in ascending order starting with the those that bought the greatest total tonnage of sugar imports during 2023.
- Indonesia: 5,069,455 tons of imported sugar (down -15.6% from 2022)
- mainland China: 3,972,996 tons (down -24.7%)
- United States of America: 3,141,667 tons (up 0.1%)
- India: 2,235,189 tons (up 349.6%)
- Bangladesh: 2,176,722 tons (down -8.1%)
- Malaysia: 1,950,312 tons (up 3.4%)
- Algeria: 1,924,385 tons (down -2%)
- Italy: 1,817,504 tons (up 3.7%)
- Saudi Arabia: 1,752,840 tons (down -9.4%)
- South Korea: 1,691,206 tons (down -13.1%)
- Morocco: 1,679,621 tons (up 7.5%)
- Canada: 1,437,005 tons (up 9.5%)
- Iraq: 1,357,823 tons (up 1.8%)
- United Arab Emirates: 1,332,352 tons (up 12.4%)
- Japan: 1,135,564 tons (up 7.1%)
The fastest gains in imported sugar as measured by shipment weight were recorded by buyers in India (up 349.6% from 2022), United Arab Emirates (up 12.4%), Canada (up 9.5%) then Morocco (up 7.5%).
Leading the year-over-year reductions were paid by sugar importers in mainland China (down -24.7%), Indonesia (down -15.6%) and South Korea (down -13.1%).
Average Prices for Major Sugar Importers
Worldwide the average price for sugar in 2023 was US$955.1 per ton inflating by 21.3% from $787.2 per ton for 2022.
Shown below are the average prices per ton of imported sugar paid for leading entrants among the top 15 buyer countries. Entries are listed in ascending order starting with countries that imported the greatest volume of sugar during 2023.
- Indonesia: US$568 per ton of imported sugar (up 13.8% from 2022)
- mainland China: $788 per ton (up 8.7%)
- United States of America: $581 per ton (up 19.5%)
- India: $806 per ton (up 47.3%)
- Bangladesh: $611 per ton (up 21%)
- Malaysia: $1,383 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- Algeria: $615 per ton (up 32.3%)
- Italy: $491 per ton (up 19.5%)
- Saudi Arabia: $607 per ton (up 20.9%)
- South Korea: $594 per ton (up 18.6%)
- Morocco: $1,598 per ton (up 59%)
- Canada: $484 per ton (up 22.8%)
- Iraq: $489 per ton (2022 data unavailable)
- United Arab Emirates: $564 per ton (up 17.5%)
- Japan: $686 per ton (up 21%)
Focusing on the above-listed, the lowest average prices for imported sugar were paid by buyers in Iraq ($484 per ton), Iraq ($489 per ton), Italy ($491 per ton) the United Arab Emirates ($564 per ton).
The costliest average charges were for sugar delivered to importers in Morocco ($1,598 per ton) and Malaysia ($1,383 per ton).
See also Sugar Exports by Country, China’s Top 10 Imports, Brazil’s Top 10 Imports, Indonesia’s Top 10 Imports and America’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on July 24, 2024
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 24, 2024
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 24, 2024
