Overall, the value of sugar imports for all buying countries declined by an average -8.5% since 2017 when global sugar purchases totaled $31.1 billion.
Year over year, imported sugar appreciated by an average 10.2% from $25.8 billion during 2020.
The 5 biggest importers of sugar are Indonesia, China, United States of America, Malaysia and Nigeria. Combined, that quintet of major sugar importers purchased well over one-quarter of the global total for 2021.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported sugar during 2021 with purchases valued at $13.6 billion or 47.9% of the world total. In second place were African importers at 22.9% while another 16.8% of globally imported sugar went to Europe.
North American nations took delivery of 8.4% of sugar imports, trailed by Latin America (3.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.7%) 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 2021.
- Indonesia: US$2.4 billion (8.4% of total sugar imports)
- China: $2.1 billion (7.3%)
- United States: $1.8 billion (6.4%)
- Malaysia: $933.8 million (3.3%)
- Nigeria: $901.7 million (3.2%)
- Bangladesh: $875.2 million (3.1%)
- South Korea: $864 million (3%)
- Italy: $778.5 million (2.7%)
- Algeria: $777.1 million (2.7%)
- Saudi Arabia: $727.6 million (2.6%)
- Morocco: $659.2 million (2.3%)
- Spain: $637.5 million (2.2%)
- Sudan: $590.5 million (2.1%)
- United Arab Emirates: $585.6 million (2.1%)
- Ethiopia: $581.6 million (2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 53.4% of all sugar imported in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for sugar from 2020 to 2021 were: Ethiopia (up 72.2%), Saudi Arabia (up 48.5%), United Arab Emirates (up 43.8%) and Morocco (up 40.6%).
Year over year, the United States of America posted the lone decline in its imported sugar purchases (down -12.8%).
Sugar Imports into Indonesia
Below are the suppliers from which Indonesia imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- India: US$857.3 million (up 274.1% from 2020)
- Australia: $582.8 million (up 35.8%)
- Thailand: $482 million (down -32.1%)
- Brazil: $455.2 million (down -13.1%)
- South Korea: $3.4 million (up 10.2%)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.1 million (2020 data unavailable)
- Germany: $356,000 (up 169.7%)
- United States of America: $89,000 (down -16%)
- Vietnam: $24,000 (up 33.3%)
- Belgium: $3,000 (2020 data unavailable)
- Japan: $1,000 (2020 data unavailable)
By value, the listed 11 countries shipped 100% of sugar imported by Indonesia in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Indonesia from 2020 to 2021 were: India (up 274.1%), Germany (up 169.7%), Australia (up 35.8%) and Vietnam (up 33.3%).
Year over year, the 3 suppliers experiencing reductions in their revenues from sugar exported to Indonesia were Thailand (down -32.1%), United States (down -16%) and Brazil (down -13.1%).
Overall, the value of Indonesia’s imported sugar rose by an average 23.1% from all supplying countries since 2020 when sugar purchased cost $1.9 billion.
Sugar Imports into China
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which China imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Brazil: US$1.7 billion (up 32.4% from 2020)
- Cuba: $89.1 million (down -47.5%)
- United Arab Emirates: $88.9 million (up 58.9%)
- South Korea: $77.7 million (down -12.1%)
- India: $41.7 million (down -21.7%)
- El Salvador: $40.5 million (down -46.2%)
- Thailand: $39.9 million (down -19%)
- Morocco: $7.4 million (up 87.5%)
- Belarus: $7.3 million (down -4%)
- Guatemala: $6 million (down -30%)
- Germany: $3.2 million (up 78.6%)
- United States of America: $3.2 million (up 137.3%)
- Mauritius: $2.1 million (up 987.1%)
- Saudi Arabia: $1.2 million (2020 data unavailable)
- Belgium: $578,000 (down -33.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9% of sugar imported by China in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to China from 2020 to 2021 were: Mauritius (up 987.1%), United States (up 137.3%), Morocco (up 87.5%) and Germany (up 78.6%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Chinese importers included: Cuba (down -47.5%), El Salvador (down -46.2%), Belgium (down -33.8%) and Guatemala (down -30%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported sugar expanded by an average 15.9% from all supplying countries since 2020 when sugar purchased cost $1.8 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 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Mexico: US$646.2 million (down -13.1% from 2020)
- Brazil: $240.2 million (down -27%)
- Guatemala: $129.3 million (up 19.8%)
- Dominican Republic: $121 million (up 2.6%)
- Colombia: $98.1 million (down -9.8%)
- Philippines: $75.2 million (up 17.5%)
- Nicaragua: $63.9 million (up 123%)
- Costa Rica: $57 million (up 120%)
- El Salvador: $48.3 million (down -18.5%)
- Australia: $44.3 million (down -39.8%)
- Argentina: $43.4 million (down -34.7%)
- Paraguay: $31.4 million (down -7.5%)
- Panama: $25.3 million (up 7%)
- South Africa: $24.9 million (up 6.7%)
- Peru: $24.2 million (down -30.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92% of sugar imported by United States in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to United States from 2020 to 2021 were: Nicaragua (up 123%), Costa Rica (up 120%), Guatemala (up 19.8%) and Philippines (up 17.5%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to American importers included: Australia (down -39.8%), Argentina (down -34.7%), Peru (down -30.8%) and Brazil (down -27%).
Overall, the value of US sugar imports shrank by an average -12.8% from all supplying countries since 2020 when sugar purchased cost $2.1 billion.
Sugar Imports into Malaysia
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Malaysia imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.
- Brazil: US$667.9 million (up 46.3% from 2020)
- India: $145.1 million (up 2.8%)
- Thailand: $71.8 million (up 45.3%)
- Guatemala: $20.1 million (up 33.4%)
- Australia: $9.5 million (up 5,725%)
- South Africa: $9.2 million (down -90.3%)
- China: $6.3 million (up 300.4%)
- United Arab Emirates: $1.8 million (down -27.4%)
- Singapore: $699,000 (up 372.3%)
- Argentina: $403,000 (2020 data unavailable)
- Hong Kong: $207,000 (up 800%)
- Paraguay: $160,000 (up 247.8%)
- France: $138,000 (down -9.2%)
- Taiwan: $120,000 (up 53.8%)
- United States of America: $89,000 (down -2.2%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 100% of sugar imported by Malaysia in 2021.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Malaysia from 2020 to 2021 were: Australia (up 5,725%), Hong Kong (up 800%), Singapore (up 372.3%) and mainland China (up 300.4%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Malaysian importers included: South Africa (down -90.3%), United Arab Emirates (down -27.4%), France (down -9.2%) and United States of America (down -2.2%).
Overall, the value of Malaysia’s imported sugar went up by an average 22.3% from all supplying countries since 2020 when sugar purchased cost $763.6 million.
Searchable List of Sugar Importing Countries in 2021
The automated table below showcases the 100 countries spending the most on imported sugar during 2021.
| Rank | Importer | Sugar Imports (US$) | 2020-1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Indonesia | $2,382,238,000 | +23.1% |
| 2. | China | $2,088,355,000 | +15.9% |
| 3. | United States | $1,825,556,000 | -12.8% |
| 4. | Malaysia | $933,812,000 | +22.3% |
| 5. | Nigeria | $901,659,000 | +28.2% |
| 6. | Bangladesh | $875,245,000 | +20.7% |
| 7. | South Korea | $863,956,000 | +33.7% |
| 8. | Italy | $778,454,000 | +5% |
| 9. | Algeria | $777,074,000 | +16% |
| 10. | Saudi Arabia | $727,576,000 | +48.5% |
| 11. | Morocco | $659,191,000 | +40.6% |
| 12. | Spain | $637,532,000 | +21.8% |
| 13. | Sudan | $590,486,000 | +5.4% |
| 14. | United Arab Emirates | $585,555,000 | +43.8% |
| 15. | Ethiopia | $581,554,000 | +72.2% |
| 16. | Vietnam | $555,268,000 | -12.9% |
| 17. | Canada | $543,142,000 | +23.3% |
| 18. | Japan | $516,335,000 | +29.1% |
| 19. | Belgium | $354,381,000 | +20.5% |
| 20. | United Kingdom | $344,403,000 | +5.3% |
| 21. | Somalia | $344,276,000 | +31.6% |
| 22. | Iraq | $338,042,000 | -3.7% |
| 23. | Uzbekistan | $332,825,000 | +38.7% |
| 24. | Germany | $315,521,000 | -12.1% |
| 25. | South Africa | $287,634,000 | +1.8% |
| 26. | Taiwan | $277,569,000 | +20.7% |
| 27. | Iran | $274,118,000 | -26% |
| 28. | Djibouti | $256,839,000 | +100.5% |
| 29. | Sri Lanka | $252,729,000 | -4.6% |
| 30. | France | $251,107,000 | +10.5% |
| 31. | Chile | $244,427,000 | +25.6% |
| 32. | Kenya | $236,474,000 | +1.6% |
| 33. | Romania | $220,262,000 | +37.5% |
| 34. | Israel | $201,224,000 | +25.6% |
| 35. | Venezuela | $199,924,000 | +11.2% |
| 36. | Pakistan | $198,558,000 | +53.1% |
| 37. | Egypt | $196,507,000 | +88.8% |
| 38. | Ghana | $186,703,000 | +21.3% |
| 39. | India | $182,956,000 | -71.5% |
| 40. | Kazakhstan | $181,668,000 | +0.5% |
| 41. | Portugal | $179,013,000 | +9.2% |
| 42. | Yemen | $168,088,000 | -50.8% |
| 43. | Mauritania | $166,188,000 | -2.9% |
| 44. | Greece | $163,409,000 | +5.6% |
| 45. | Afghanistan | $161,567,000 | -23.2% |
| 46. | Singapore | $160,838,000 | +38.9% |
| 47. | Azerbaijan | $155,678,000 | +51% |
| 48. | Netherlands | $154,697,000 | -1.5% |
| 49. | Ivory Coast | $154,360,000 | +676% |
| 50. | Austria | $146,891,000 | +3.4% |
| 51. | Syria | $144,967,000 | +41.5% |
| 52. | Tanzania | $132,131,000 | +52.7% |
| 53. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $124,487,000 | +205.9% |
| 54. | Hungary | $119,776,000 | +16.1% |
| 55. | Bulgaria | $113,408,000 | +5.3% |
| 56. | Colombia | $111,976,000 | -7% |
| 57. | New Zealand | $111,324,000 | +34.8% |
| 58. | Angola | $107,986,000 | -16.4% |
| 59. | Haiti | $94,991,000 | +2.1% |
| 60. | Russia | $94,440,000 | +33.2% |
| 61. | Peru | $90,543,000 | -35.7% |
| 62. | Poland | $89,891,000 | +0.2% |
| 63. | Hong Kong | $89,284,000 | +3.8% |
| 64. | Madagascar | $88,641,000 | +53.1% |
| 65. | Philippines | $87,723,000 | +27% |
| 66. | Tajikistan | $86,229,000 | +51% |
| 67. | Lebanon | $82,166,000 | -14.6% |
| 68. | Ukraine | $80,753,000 | +4256% |
| 69. | Tunisia | $79,959,000 | -40.4% |
| 70. | Jordan | $78,310,000 | -52% |
| 71. | Nepal | $76,877,000 | +13.6% |
| 72. | Norway | $76,264,000 | +15.7% |
| 73. | Senegal | $75,991,000 | -16.1% |
| 74. | Ireland | $74,974,000 | -4.5% |
| 75. | Guinea | $74,620,000 | -14.5% |
| 76. | Czech Republic | $65,691,000 | +3.1% |
| 77. | Slovenia | $61,556,000 | +80.4% |
| 78. | Libya | $61,467,000 | -22.7% |
| 79. | Georgia | $60,346,000 | +17.8% |
| 80. | Laos | $59,364,000 | +43.4% |
| 81. | Gambia | $58,639,000 | +129.4% |
| 82. | Switzerland | $57,738,000 | +3.5% |
| 83. | Mauritius | $50,200,000 | +123.5% |
| 84. | Finland | $49,587,000 | +12.4% |
| 85. | Myanmar | $49,146,000 | +5.4% |
| 86. | Cameroon | $48,469,000 | -4.1% |
| 87. | Namibia | $46,803,000 | -24.5% |
| 88. | Turkey | $43,786,000 | -59.5% |
| 89. | Armenia | $42,839,000 | +55.4% |
| 90. | Slovakia | $41,259,000 | +15.3% |
| 91. | Turkmenistan | $40,462,000 | +6.6% |
| 92. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $40,012,000 | -12% |
| 93. | Croatia | $39,194,000 | +68% |
| 94. | Cambodia | $38,969,000 | +26.5% |
| 95. | Thailand | $37,657,000 | +9.6% |
| 96. | Togo | $36,808,000 | +14.7% |
| 97. | Uruguay | $36,168,000 | -4.9% |
| 98. | Denmark | $35,544,000 | +14.6% |
| 99. | Kuwait | $33,512,000 | -40% |
| 100. | Sweden | $32,142,000 | -9.6% |
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 2020 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 2021.
- Indonesia: 5,455,144 tons of imported sugar (down -1.5% from 2020)
- China: 5,270,058 tons (down -0.1%)
- United States: 2,822,277 tons (down -20%)
- Bangladesh: 2,494,088 tons (down -1.3%)
- Algeria: 2,362,136 tons (down -3.2%)
- Malaysia: 2,117,821 tons (down -3.2%)
- South Korea: 1,956,319 tons (up 1%)
- Italy: 1,603,057 tons (up 4.7%)
- United Arab Emirates: 1,535,172 tons (up 26.4%)
- Morocco: 1,493,081 tons (up 15.5%)
- Ethiopia: 1,383,423 tons (up 30.4%)
- Canada: 1,373,882 tons (up 1.4%)
- Sudan: 1,269,780 tons (down -14.8%)
- Vietnam: 1,173,307 tons (up 9.6%)
- Saudi Arabia: 1,098,614 tons (down -25.1%)
The fastest gains in imported sugar as measured by shipment volume are Ethiopia (up 30.4% from 2020), United Arab Emirates (up 26.4%) then Morocco (up 15.5%).
Leading the year-over-year reductions are sugar importers in Saudi Arabia (down -25.1%), United States of America (down -20%) and Sudan (down -14.8%).
Average Prices for Major Sugar Importers
Shown below are the average prices per ton of imported sugar paid by each of the top 15 buyer countries. Entries are listed in ascending order starting with countries that imported the greatest volume of sugar during 2021.
- Indonesia: US$437 per ton of imported sugar (up 25.2% from 2020)
- China: $396 per ton (up 15.8%)
- United States of America: $647 per ton (up 8.9%)
- Bangladesh: $351 per ton (up 22.3%)
- Algeria: $329 per ton (up 19.6%)
- Malaysia: $441 per ton (up 26.4%)
- South Korea: $442 per ton (up 32.7%)
- Italy: $486 per ton (up 0.4%)
- United Arab Emirates: $381 per ton (up 13.7%)
- Morocco: $441 per ton (up 21.5%)
- Ethiopia: $420 per ton (up 32.1%)
- Canada: $395 per ton (up 21.5%)
- Sudan: $465 per ton (up 23.7%)
- Vietnam: $473 per ton (down -20.6%)
- Saudi Arabia: $662 per ton (up 98.2%)
The lowest average prices for imported sugar were paid by Algeria ($329 per ton), Bangladesh ($351 per ton), United Arab Emirates ($381 per ton), Canada ($395 per ton) and China ($396 per ton).
The most expensive average charges were for sugar delivered to Saudi Arabia ($662 per ton) and the United States of America ($647 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 June 10, 2022
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 10, 2022
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 10, 2022
