Overall, the value of sugar imports for all buying countries declined by an average -10.6% since 2016 when sugar purchases cost $28.1 billion. Year over year, imported sugar increased in value by 13.3% from 2019 to 2020.
The biggest 5 importers of sugar are the United States, Indonesia, China, Italy and Malaysia. Combined, these major sugar importers generated 29.3% of global sugar sales in 2020.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported sugar during 2020 with purchases valued at $12.1 billion or 48.2% of the global total. In second place were African importers at 20.2% while 17.2% of worldwide sugar imports were delivered to Europe.
North American nations took delivery of 10.3% of globally imported sugar, trailed by Latin America (3.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean and Oceania (0.6%) led by New Zealand.
For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for sugar is 1701. This includes solid-form cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose.
Sugar Imports by Country
Top 15
Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2020.
- United States: US$2.1 billion (8.3% of total imported sugar)
- Indonesia: $1.9 billion (7.7%)
- China: $1.8 billion (7.2%)
- Italy: $764.7 million (3%)
- Malaysia: $763.6 million (3%)
- Bangladesh: $725.3 million (2.9%)
- Nigeria: $703.2 million (2.8%)
- Algeria: $670.1 million (2.7%)
- South Korea: $646.1 million (2.6%)
- India: $641.6 million (2.6%)
- Vietnam: $553.1 million (2.2%)
- Spain: $523.6 million (2.1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $490 million (2%)
- Morocco: $469 million (1.9%)
- Canada: $440.6 million (1.8%)
Among the above countries, the leading sugar suppliers from 2019 to 2020 were: Vietnam (up 393.8%), India (up 110.3%), China (up 60.7%) and Nigeria (up 51.8%).
The lone imported sugar decliner year over year was Spain thanks to its -23.7% reduction.
The listed 15 countries purchased 52.7% of all sugar imported in 2020.
USA
Sugar Imports into the United States
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which America imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Mexico: US$743.4 million (up 30.4% from 2019)
- Brazil: $337.3 million (up 88.4%)
- Dominican Republic: $117.9 million (up 20.5%)
- Colombia: $108.9 million (up 13%)
- Guatemala: $100.1 million (down -18.9%)
- Australia: $73.5 million (up 7.9%)
- Philippines: $64 million (up 59.1%)
- Argentina: $62.5 million (up 13%)
- El Salvador: $59.1 million (down -21.7%)
- United Kingdom: $45.9 million (up 241,290%)
- Peru: $35 million (down -25.5%)
- Paraguay: $34 million (up 32.8%)
- Nicaragua: $28.7 million (down -30.7%)
- Costa Rica: $25.9 million (down -44.8%)
- Panama: $23.7 million (down -5.9%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 88.9% of sugar imported by United States in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to United States from 2019 to 2020 were: United Kingdom (up 241289.5%), Brazil (up 88.4%), Philippines (up 59.1%) and Paraguay (up 32.8%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to American importers included: Costa Rica (down -44.8%), Nicaragua (down -30.7%), Peru (down -25.5%) and El Salvador (down -21.7%).
Overall, the value of United States’ imported sugar rose by an average 26.2% from all supplying countries since 2019 when sugar purchased cost $1.7 billion.
Indonesia
Sugar Imports into Indonesia
Below are the suppliers from which Indonesia imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Thailand: US$709.8 million (down -39.4% from 2019)
- Brazil: $523.7 million (no 2019 data)
- Australia: $429.2 million (up 126.3%)
- India: $229.2 million (up 110,074%)
- South Africa: $25.6 million (no 2019 data)
- Guatemala: $14.2 million (no 2019 data)
- South Korea: $3.1 million (down -34.9%)
- China: $620,000 (no 2019 data)
- Malaysia: $180,000 (down -58.1%)
- Germany: $132,000 (down -0.8%)
- United States: $106,000 (down -18.5%)
- Timor-Leste: $56,000 (no 2019 data)
- Indonesia: $55,000 (no 2019 data)
- Vietnam: $18,000 (down -5.3%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 100% of sugar imported by Indonesia in 2020.
The fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Indonesia from 2019 to 2020 were India (up 110,074%) and Australia (up 126.3%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Indonesian importers included Malaysia (down -58.1%), Thailand (down -39.4%) and South Korea (down -34.9%).
Overall, the value of Indonesia’s imported sugar accelerated by an average 41.7% from all supplying countries since 2019 when sugar purchased cost $1.4 billion.
China
Sugar Imports into China
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- Brazil: US$1.3 billion (up 189.8% from 2019)
- Cuba: $169.9 million (up 7.6%)
- South Korea: $88.4 million (up 15.8%)
- El Salvador: $75.3 million (up 105.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: $56 million (up 5%)
- India: $53.3 million (up 387.5%)
- Thailand: $49.3 million (down -79.4%)
- South Africa: $15 million (down -65.1%)
- Guatemala: $8.6 million (down -73.2%)
- Belarus: $7.6 million (no 2019 data)
- Morocco: $3.9 million (no 2019 data)
- Germany: $1.8 million (up 138.9%)
- Malaysia: $1.5 million (down -69.7%)
- United States: $1.3 million (up 216.9%)
- Belgium: $873,000 (up 298.6%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 99.9% of sugar imported by China in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to China from 2019 to 2020 were: United Arab Emirates (up 199,825%), India (up 387.5%), Belgium (up 298.6%) and United States (up 216.9%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Chinese importers included: Thailand (down -79.4%), Guatemala (down -73.2%), Malaysia (down -69.7%) and South Africa (down -65.1%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported sugar gained an average 60.7% from all supplying countries since 2019 when sugar purchased cost $1.1 billion.
Italy
Sugar Imports into Italy
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Italy imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2020. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2019 to 2020.
- France: US$261.7 million (up 11.5% from 2019)
- Germany: $197.8 million (up 2.1%)
- Netherlands: $75 million (up 55.2%)
- Mauritius: $20 million (down -25.7%)
- United Kingdom: $20 million (down -14.8%)
- South Africa: $19.3 million (up 91.6%)
- Croatia: $18.1 million (down -0.6%)
- Belgium: $14.5 million (up 23.4%)
- Eswatini: $13.5 million (down -48.1%)
- Fiji: $11.1 million (no 2019 data)
- Austria: $11 million (up 86%)
- Denmark: $10.6 million (up 248.9%)
- Nicaragua: $9.3 million (up 712.6%)
- Czech Republic: $9 million (up 36.1%)
- Guatemala: $8.8 million (down -48.1%)
The listed 15 countries shipped 91.5% of sugar imported by Italy in 2020.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Italy from 2019 to 2020 were: Nicaragua (up 712.6%), Denmark (up 248.9%), South Africa (up 91.6%) and Austria (up 86%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Italian importers included: Eswatini (down -48.1%), Guatemala (down -48.1%), Mauritius (down -25.7%) and United Kingdom (down -14.8%).
Overall, the value of Italy’s imported sugar grew by an average 9.7% from all supplying countries since 2019 when sugar purchased cost $697.3 million.
Searchable List of Sugar Importing Countries in 2020
You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns below. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2019 data was available.
| Rank | Importer | Sugar Imports (US$) | 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | United States | $2,091,587,000 | +26.2% |
| 2. | Indonesia | $1,935,927,000 | +41.7% |
| 3. | China | $1,801,965,000 | +60.7% |
| 4. | Italy | $764,660,000 | +9.7% |
| 5. | Malaysia | $763,579,000 | +21.2% |
| 6. | Bangladesh | $725,348,000 | +13.2% |
| 7. | Nigeria | $703,228,000 | +51.8% |
| 8. | Algeria | $670,088,000 | +3.7% |
| 9. | South Korea | $646,064,000 | +2.6% |
| 10. | India | $641,639,000 | +110.3% |
| 11. | Vietnam | $553,104,000 | +393.8% |
| 12. | Spain | $523,634,000 | -24% |
| 13. | Saudi Arabia | $489,957,000 | +15.2% |
| 14. | Morocco | $468,964,000 | +14% |
| 15. | Canada | $440,611,000 | +6.7% |
| 16. | United Arab Emirates | $414,027,000 | +35.8% |
| 17. | Sudan | $404,205,000 | -19.8% |
| 18. | Japan | $400,046,000 | -5.7% |
| 19. | Iran | $395,489,000 | -11.6% |
| 20. | Germany | $357,398,000 | +17% |
| 21. | Iraq | $348,814,000 | +25.7% |
| 22. | Ethiopia | $337,645,000 | +83.2% |
| 23. | United Kingdom | $325,311,000 | -17% |
| 24. | Yemen | $302,927,000 | +33.5% |
| 25. | Belgium | $294,210,000 | -40% |
| 26. | South Africa | $282,604,000 | -6.8% |
| 27. | Somalia | $260,996,000 | -0.6% |
| 28. | Uzbekistan | $240,033,000 | -9.7% |
| 29. | Taiwan | $229,913,000 | +0.5% |
| 30. | France | $226,551,000 | +7% |
| 31. | Sri Lanka | $215,700,000 | +24.1% |
| 32. | Afghanistan | $198,850,000 | -7.7% |
| 33. | Chile | $194,583,000 | +13% |
| 34. | Kenya | $185,444,000 | -39.6% |
| 35. | Kazakhstan | $180,770,000 | +15.6% |
| 36. | Venezuela | $179,831,000 | +130.6% |
| 37. | Romania | $160,186,000 | -15.9% |
| 38. | Israel | $160,056,000 | +4.4% |
| 39. | Portugal | $156,429,000 | +1% |
| 40. | Netherlands | $155,288,000 | +1.4% |
| 41. | Greece | $154,708,000 | +12.9% |
| 42. | Ghana | $151,249,000 | +9.1% |
| 43. | Peru | $140,777,000 | +62% |
| 44. | Austria | $139,198,000 | +71.9% |
| 45. | Pakistan | $129,526,000 | +3,372% |
| 46. | Colombia | $120,354,000 | +11.7% |
| 47. | Djibouti | $120,268,000 | +9% |
| 48. | Singapore | $115,773,000 | -6.7% |
| 49. | Togo | $109,529,000 | +187.8% |
| 50. | Turkey | $108,012,000 | +53.2% |
| 51. | Bulgaria | $107,747,000 | +3.4% |
| 52. | Egypt | $104,072,000 | -71.8% |
| 53. | Azerbaijan | $103,102,000 | -18.6% |
| 54. | Hungary | $102,893,000 | +17.4% |
| 55. | Mauritania | $101,705,000 | +73.4% |
| 56. | Benin | $99,100,000 | +103.3% |
| 57. | Syrian Arab Republic | $98,181,000 | -16.1% |
| 58. | Jordan | $91,583,000 | -22.4% |
| 59. | Senegal | $90,623,000 | +98.5% |
| 60. | Poland | $89,706,000 | +1.1% |
| 61. | Tunisia | $89,300,000 | -44.6% |
| 62. | Guinea | $86,265,000 | +20.1% |
| 63. | Hong Kong | $86,036,000 | -19.2% |
| 64. | New Zealand | $82,580,000 | -1% |
| 65. | Tanzania | $82,141,000 | -18.9% |
| 66. | Ivory Coast | $81,764,000 | +370.4% |
| 67. | Ireland | $78,737,000 | +5.2% |
| 68. | Angola | $77,584,000 | -65.6% |
| 69. | Russia | $70,876,000 | -28.9% |
| 70. | Philippines | $69,049,000 | -38.5% |
| 71. | Uganda | $67,998,000 | -12.5% |
| 72. | Lebanon | $67,169,000 | -7.6% |
| 73. | Haiti | $66,742,000 | -10.9% |
| 74. | Norway | $65,909,000 | +8.2% |
| 75. | Nepal | $65,887,000 | +840.2% |
| 76. | Czech Republic | $64,016,000 | +19.6% |
| 77. | Namibia | $62,009,000 | +8.7% |
| 78. | Madagascar | $57,902,000 | -2.9% |
| 79. | Tajikistan | $57,119,000 | -21.4% |
| 80. | Switzerland | $55,797,000 | +23.4% |
| 81. | Mexico | $53,789,000 | +50.9% |
| 82. | Libya | $52,401,000 | +162.6% |
| 83. | Georgia | $51,207,000 | +1.7% |
| 84. | Cameroon | $50,170,000 | +62.6% |
| 85. | Myanmar | $46,633,000 | -17.7% |
| 86. | Botswana | $46,440,000 | -24.4% |
| 87. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $45,489,000 | +13.6% |
| 88. | Finland | $43,886,000 | -3.4% |
| 89. | Laos | $42,673,000 | -51.8% |
| 90. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $40,692,000 | +105% |
| 91. | Uruguay | $38,019,000 | +13% |
| 92. | Slovakia | $36,610,000 | -10% |
| 93. | South Sudan | $35,217,000 | +2,706% |
| 94. | Sweden | $34,608,000 | -20.3% |
| 95. | Turkmenistan | $34,533,000 | +0.5% |
| 96. | North Korea | $34,493,000 | -35.8% |
| 97. | Thailand | $34,365,000 | +6,913% |
| 98. | Slovenia | $34,124,000 | -26% |
| 99. | Kuwait | $32,719,000 | -33% |
| 100. | North Macedonia | $31,372,000 | +2.8% |
See also Sugar Exports by Country and America’s Top Trading Partners
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on June 3, 2021
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 3, 2021
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 3, 2021
