Overall, the value of sugar imports for all buying countries increased by an average 41.4% compared to 2018 when global sugar purchases totaled $24.8 billion.
Year over year, payments for sugar imports accelerated by an average 16.7% from $30.1 billion during 2021.
The 5 biggest importers of sugar are Indonesia, mainland China, United States of America, Italy and South Korea. Combined, that quintet of major sugar importers purchased well over one-quarter (28%) of the worldwide total for 2022.
From a continental perspective, Asian countries consumed the highest dollar worth of imported sugar during 2022 with purchases valued at $16.9 billion or 48.1% of the world total. In second place were African importers at 21.1% while another 17.5% of globally imported sugar went to buyers located in Europe.
North American nations took delivery of 8.3% of sugar imports, trailed by Latin America (4.4%) 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 2022.
- Indonesia: US$3 billion (8.6% of total sugar imports)
- China: $2.6 billion (7.3%)
- United States: $2.3 billion (6.5%)
- Italy: $1 billion (2.9%)
- South Korea: $977.6 million (2.8%)
- Bangladesh: $973.5 million (2.8%)
- Malaysia: $876.4 million (2.5%)
- Spain: $859.6 million (2.5%)
- Nigeria: $844.5 million (2.4%)
- Sudan: $836.4 million (2.4%)
- Morocco: $782.6 million (2.2%)
- United Arab Emirates: $780.2 million (2.2%)
- Algeria: $773.6 million (2.2%)
- Saudi Arabia: $747.7 million (2.1%)
- Canada: $626.9 million (1.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 51.1% of all sugar imported in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for sugar from 2021 to 2022 were: Spain (up 34.8%), Italy (up 32.5%), Indonesia (up 25.9%) and United Arab Emirates (up 23%).
Four major buyer nations posted declines in their imported sugar purchases, namely: Nigeria (down -6.3% from 2021), Malaysia (down -6.1%), Sudan (down -2.6%) and Algeria (down -0.5%).
Sugar Imports into Indonesia
Below are the suppliers from which Indonesia imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Thailand: US$1.2 billion (up 152.3% from 2021)
- India: $813.9 million (down -5.1%)
- Brazil: $642.6 million (up 41.2%)
- Australia: $321.2 million (down -44.9%)
- South Korea: $3.8 million (up 10.2%)
- Germany: $642,000 (up 80.3%)
- United States: $25,000 (down -71.9%)
- Vietnam: $24,000 (no change)
- Belgium: $8,000 (up 166.7%)
- Japan: $1,000 (no change)
By value, the listed countries shipped 100% of sugar imported by Indonesia in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Indonesia from 2021 to 2022 were: Belgium (up 166.7%), Thailand (up 152.3%), Germany (up 80.3%) and Brazil (up 41.2%).
Year over year, the 3 major suppliers experiencing reductions in their revenues from sugar exported to Indonesia were the United States of America (down -71.9% from 2021), Australia (down -44.9%) and India (down -5.1%).
Overall, the value of Indonesia’s imported sugar increased by an average 25.9% from all supplying countries since 2021 when sugar purchased cost $2.4 billion.
Sugar Imports into China
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which mainland China imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Brazil: US$2 billion (up 8.8% from 2021)
- Thailand: $144.5 million (up 169.8%)
- India: $133.5 million (up 213%)
- South Korea: $95.9 million (up 3.3%)
- El Salvador: $70.8 million (up 74.7%)
- Guatemala: $55 million (up 819.2%)
- Cuba: $45.3 million (down -49.2%)
- United Arab Emirates: $7.8 million (down -92.3%)
- Mauritius: $5.1 million (up 11.4%)
- Vietnam: $5.1 million (up 4690.6%)
- Belarus: $4.7 million (down -59.5%)
- Saudi Arabia: $4.7 million (up 205.2%)
- Malaysia: $4 million (up 803.6%)
- Indonesia: $2.3 million (2021 data unavailable)
- United States of America: $1.1 million (down -68.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9% of sugar imported by China in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to China from 2021 to 2022 were: Vietnam (up 4690.6%), Guatemala (up 819.2%), Malaysia (up 803.6%) and India (up 213%).
Countries that experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to Chinese importers included: United Arab Emirates (down -92.3%), United States of America (down -68.8%), Belarus (down -59.5%) and Cuba (down -49.2%).
Overall, the value of China’s imported sugar rose by an average 12.3% from all supplying countries since 2021 when sugar purchased cost $2.3 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 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Mexico: US$922.6 million (up 41% from 2021)
- Brazil: $194.9 million (down -25.2%)
- Guatemala: $165.1 million (up 27.7%)
- Dominican Republic: $154.5 million (up 27.7%)
- El Salvador: $122 million (up 152.8%)
- Colombia: $113.7 million (up 15.9%)
- Costa Rica: $90.1 million (up 58%)
- Australia: $78.8 million (up 32.6%)
- Paraguay: $52.6 million (up 67.5%)
- Nicaragua: $44.6 million (down -30.1%)
- Peru: $42 million (up 73.3%)
- Argentina: $36.2 million (down -16.5%)
- South Africa: $29.8 million (up 20.1%)
- Panama: $28 million (up 10.4%)
- Honduras: $23.3 million (up 55.7%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 92.2% of sugar imported by the United States of America in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to the United States of America from 2021 to 2022 were: El Salvador (up 152.8%), Peru (up 73.3%), Paraguay (up 67.5%) and Costa Rica (up 58%).
A trio of major providers experienced declines in the value of their sugar supplied to American importers, namely: Nicaragua (down -30.1%), Brazil (down -25.2%) and Argentina (down -16.5%).
Overall, the value of America’s imported sugar accelerated by an average 22.3% from all supplying countries since 2021 when sugar purchased cost $1.9 billion.
Sugar Imports into Italy
Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Italy imported the highest dollar value worth of sugar during 2022. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2021 to 2022.
- Germany: US$387.3 million (up 25.1% from 2021)
- France: $249 million (up 76.8%)
- Netherlands: $113.5 million (up 50.9%)
- Croatia: $31.2 million (up 42%)
- Brazil: $21.5 million (up 1382.7%)
- Austria: $21 million (up 183.2%)
- Poland: $17.7 million (up 601.6%)
- Fiji: $17.2 million (up 6.5%)
- Mauritius: $15.2 million (down -36.4%)
- Slovenia: $14.9 million (up 152.8%)
- Czech Republic: $14.4 million (up 157.2%)
- Belize: $14.1 million (down -44.6%)
- Belgium: $12.5 million (down -29.5%)
- Guatemala: $10.4 million (down -45.5%)
- Colombia: $9 million (up 46.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 94.5% of sugar imported by Italy in 2022.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of sugar to Italy from 2021 to 2022 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 2021), 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 2021 when sugar purchased cost $758 million.
Searchable List of Sugar Importing Countries in 2022
The automated table below showcases the 100 countries spending the most on imported sugar during 2022.
| Rank | Importer | Sugar Imports | 2021-2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Indonesia | $2,998,272,000 | +25.9% |
| 2. | China | $2,564,284,000 | +12.3% |
| 3. | United States | $2,276,218,000 | +22.3% |
| 4. | Italy | $1,004,547,000 | +32.5% |
| 5. | South Korea | $977,581,000 | +13.2% |
| 6. | Bangladesh | $973,491,000 | +11.2% |
| 7. | Malaysia | $876,425,000 | -6.1% |
| 8. | Spain | $859,637,000 | +34.8% |
| 9. | Nigeria | $844,455,000 | -6.3% |
| 10. | Sudan | $836,437,000 | -2.6% |
| 11. | Morocco | $782,634,000 | +18.7% |
| 12. | United Arab Emirates | $780,185,000 | +23% |
| 13. | Algeria | $773,562,000 | -0.5% |
| 14. | Saudi Arabia | $747,749,000 | +2.8% |
| 15. | Canada | $626,927,000 | +17.6% |
| 16. | Chile | $624,672,000 | +39.3% |
| 17. | Japan | $601,726,000 | +16.5% |
| 18. | Ethiopia | $577,296,000 | -0.7% |
| 19. | Iraq | $540,274,000 | +59.3% |
| 20. | Uzbekistan | $520,881,000 | +56.5% |
| 21. | Iran | $448,935,000 | -17.6% |
| 22. | Türkiye | $445,519,000 | +917.5% |
| 23. | Vietnam | $443,879,000 | -40.4% |
| 24. | Belgium | $431,286,000 | +16.5% |
| 25. | Somalia | $413,846,000 | +20% |
| 26. | United Kingdom | $383,075,000 | +15.3% |
| 27. | Kazakhstan | $367,847,000 | +37.3% |
| 28. | Romania | $306,903,000 | +39% |
| 29. | Taiwan | $301,347,000 | +8.7% |
| 30. | Mauritania | $297,500,000 | +79% |
| 31. | Russia | $296,354,000 | +213.8% |
| 32. | Germany | $295,271,000 | -7.4% |
| 33. | Yemen | $280,000,000 | +64% |
| 34. | Djibouti | $279,715,000 | +8.9% |
| 35. | Philippines | $265,863,000 | +203.1% |
| 36. | Greece | $252,479,000 | +54.5% |
| 37. | India | $251,281,000 | +37.3% |
| 38. | Laos | $250,231,000 | +312% |
| 39. | Venezuela | $248,214,000 | +24.1% |
| 40. | France | $246,487,000 | -1.8% |
| 41. | Sri Lanka | $241,639,000 | -17.7% |
| 42. | Israel | $231,395,000 | +15% |
| 43. | South Africa | $230,080,000 | -20% |
| 44. | Portugal | $227,872,000 | +24.1% |
| 45. | Netherlands | $210,637,000 | +37.8% |
| 46. | Poland | $207,541,000 | +130.9% |
| 47. | Kenya | $203,441,000 | -14% |
| 48. | Egypt | $199,468,000 | +1.5% |
| 49. | Bulgaria | $187,693,000 | +69.8% |
| 50. | Peru | $181,659,000 | +100.6% |
| 51. | Tanzania | $179,003,000 | +35.5% |
| 52. | Azerbaijan | $175,676,000 | +12.8% |
| 53. | Hungary | $172,257,000 | +43.1% |
| 54. | Jordan | $163,719,000 | +7.2% |
| 55. | Singapore | $162,969,000 | +1.3% |
| 56. | Angola | $162,455,000 | +50.4% |
| 57. | Ghana | $160,063,000 | -14.3% |
| 58. | Colombia | $149,005,000 | +33.1% |
| 59. | Botswana | $139,842,000 | +120% |
| 60. | Austria | $132,788,000 | -9.4% |
| 61. | Tunisia | $125,445,000 | +56.9% |
| 62. | New Zealand | $113,846,000 | +2.3% |
| 63. | Lebanon | $110,922,000 | +37.7% |
| 64. | Cameroon | $110,129,000 | +114.4% |
| 65. | Afghanistan | $107,704,000 | -33.9% |
| 66. | Senegal | $106,004,000 | +39.5% |
| 67. | Libya | $102,421,000 | +36.1% |
| 68. | Syria | $100,739,000 | -30.8% |
| 69. | Guinea | $99,778,000 | +33.7% |
| 70. | Hong Kong | $98,232,000 | +10% |
| 71. | Bosnia/Herzegovina | $97,400,000 | +143.4% |
| 72. | Tajikistan | $94,279,000 | +9.3% |
| 73. | Namibia | $90,104,000 | +25.8% |
| 74. | Georgia | $89,389,000 | +48.1% |
| 75. | Czech Republic | $80,051,000 | +23.7% |
| 76. | Ireland | $79,428,000 | +5.1% |
| 77. | Kyrgyzstan | $79,329,000 | +216.2% |
| 78. | Norway | $74,864,000 | -1.8% |
| 79. | Rwanda | $74,759,000 | -30.1% |
| 80. | Haiti | $74,470,000 | -21.6% |
| 81. | Gambia | $72,656,000 | +284.4% |
| 82. | Slovenia | $70,582,000 | +15.1% |
| 83. | Croatia | $65,907,000 | +75.9% |
| 84. | Ivory Coast | $63,601,000 | +72.6% |
| 85. | Switzerland | $63,548,000 | +10% |
| 86. | Thailand | $62,869,000 | +67% |
| 87. | Mauritius | $62,297,000 | +24.1% |
| 88. | Finland | $53,763,000 | +8.4% |
| 89. | Democr. Rep. Congo | $52,721,000 | +22% |
| 90. | Cambodia | $52,702,000 | +35.2% |
| 91. | Madagascar | $51,865,000 | -41.5% |
| 92. | Slovakia | $51,600,000 | +24.3% |
| 93. | Kuwait | $51,212,000 | -7.1% |
| 94. | Trinidad/Tobago | $50,526,000 | +25.9% |
| 95. | Uruguay | $47,957,000 | +8.9% |
| 96. | Qatar | $46,845,000 | +94.2% |
| 97. | North Macedonia | $45,603,000 | +22.2% |
| 98. | Turkmenistan | $44,326,000 | -13.5% |
| 99. | Togo | $44,180,000 | +20% |
| 100. | Bahrain | $43,497,000 | +36.9% |
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 2021 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 2022.
- Sri Lanka: 446,745,914 tons of imported sugar (up 78,300% from 2021)
- Indonesia: 6,007,603 tons (up 9.6%)
- mainland China: 5,274,506 tons (down -6.9%)
- United States of America: 3,138,826 tons (up 8.9%)
- Bangladesh: 2,368,172 tons (down -5%)
- Algeria: 1,963,657 tons (down -16.9%)
- South Korea: 1,946,919 tons (down -0.5%)
- Malaysia: 1,885,470 tons (down -11%)
- Italy: 1,835,271 tons (up 18.7%)
- Sudan: 1,619,837 tons (down -11%)
- Morocco: 1,562,181 tons (up 4.6%)
- Iraq: 1,328,118 tons (up 41.2%)
- Canada: 1,311,609 tons (down -2.3%)
- Ethiopia: 1,247,697 tons (down -9.8%)
- Chile: 1,128,499 tons (up 4.3%)
The fastest gains in imported sugar as measured by shipment weight were recorded by Sri Lanka (up 78,300% from 2021), Iraq (up 41.2%) then Italy (up 18.7%).
Leading the year-over-year reductions were sugar importers in Sudan (down -11%), Malaysia (also down -11%) and Ethiopia (down -9.8%).
Average Prices for Major Sugar Importers
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 2022.
- Indonesia: US$499 per ton of imported sugar (up 14.7% from 2021)
- mainland China: $486 per ton (up 20.6%)
- United States of America: $725 per ton (up 12.2%)
- Italy: $547 per ton (up 11.6%)
- South Korea: $502 per ton (up 13.6%)
- Bangladesh: $411 per ton (up 17.1%)
- Malaysia: $465 per ton (up 5.4%)
- Nigeria: $1,005 per ton (down -33.2%)
- Sudan: $516 per ton (up 9.3%)
- Morocco: $501 per ton (up 13.6%)
- Algeria: $394 per ton (up 19.8%)
- Canada: $478 per ton (up 20.4%)
- Chile: $554 per ton (up 33.5%)
- Japan: $567 per ton (up 8.2%)
- Ethiopia: $463 per ton (up 10.2%)
The lowest average prices for imported sugar were paid by Algeria ($394 per ton), Bangladesh ($411 per ton), Ethiopia ($463 per ton), Malaysia ($465 per ton) and Canada ($478 per ton).
The most expensive average charges were for sugar delivered to buyers in Nigeria ($1,005 per ton), United States of America ($725 per ton) and Japan ($567 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 28, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on July 28, 2023
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on July 28, 2023
