Top 10 Sugar Producing Countries in 2023 – Insights and Rankings

Al Jazeera Net Correspondents

Sugar is a staple that is widely consumed around the world, and almost no home is without it. It is made from various plants such as sugar cane, sugar beets, and others.

• It is a type of carbohydrate found in many foods, drinks, fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
• It comes in many different forms, from natural sugars such as fructose found in fruit and honey, or lactose found in dairy products, to sucrose (table sugar) that we add to tea or coffee or we use in baking, according to what the “Sugar Nutrition” Platform has reported.
• Per capita sugar consumption is expected to increase over the next decade, driven mainly by income growth in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa.
• However, average per capita consumption in low- and middle-income countries is expected to remain much lower than in high-income countries, according to the OECD and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO ).
• Sugar production is also expected to expand mainly in the main sugarcane producing countries, which are often grown in tropical and subtropical regions, and represent more than 85% of production global sugar crop, according to the previous source.
• Global production in the 2022/2023 season will reach around 177 million metric tons, and Asia will be the largest sugar producing region with nearly 60 million tons, according to the “Statista” platform.

Sugar is produced from various plants such as sugar cane, sugar beets, and others (Reuters)

1- Top 10 sugar producing countries

India is the world’s leading sugar producer and plays an important role in the global sugar scene thanks to its incredible output of 34.3 million tonnes.

It has strengthened its leadership in sugar production, taking advantage of favorable climatic conditions, large agricultural areas, and advanced agricultural practices. India’s significant contribution to global supply confirms its position and influence in the international sugar market, confirming its position as a major player in the sugar market. industry by 2024.

The following is a list of the top 10 sugar producing countries in 2023, as reported by the “WiseFutter” platform and the “ADA 247” website.

1. India: 34.3 million tonnes
2. Brazil: 27.7 million tons
3. Thailand: 14.9 million tons
4. China: 11.8 million tons
5. United States: 7.4 million tons
6. Russia: 7.3 million tons
7. Mexico: 6.7 million tons
8. France: 4.9 million tons
9. Pakistan: 4.9 million tons
10. Australia: 4.5 million tonnes

2- The top 10 countries that import sugar

Global sugar imports from the top 10 sugar importing countries will reach about $53.14 billion in 2023.

Imports of the ten sugar importing countries are about $53.14 billion in 2023 (Pixabay)

China has traditionally been the most important importer of sugar. However, the United States surpassed it in 2023 and emerged as the largest importer of sugar, with imports reaching $13.85 billion, according to the IMEX Trade platform.

1. United States: $13.85 billion
2. China: $7.47 billion
3. Indonesia: $6.57 billion
4. Germany: $4.85 billion
5. United Kingdom: $4.65 billion
6. Spain: $3.70 billion
7. Canada: $3.52 billion
8. South Korea: $3.22 billion
9. France: $2.71 billion
10. Malaysia: $2.6 billion

3- The 10 largest companies control sugar imports, including one Arab company

The following is a list of the top 10 companies leading the global sugar market in 2023, with their total revenue according to the “Trade IMEX” platform:

1. Cargill Incorporated (US): $177 billion
2. Wilmar International Limited (Singapore): $67.2 billion
3. Louis Dreyfus Company (Netherlands): $59.9 billion
4. Associated British Foods (UK): $25.19 billion
5. Biosafe & Raisen (Brazil): $39 billion
6. Südzucker AG (Germany): $11 billion
7. US Costs (Brazil): $7.9 billion
8. Savola Group (Saudi Arabia): $7.2 billion
9. Terius (France): $7.1 billion
10. AID-Barry (India): $4.2 billion
    An American citizen consumes about 126.4 grams of sugar per day (Shutterstock)

4- Facts you may not know about sugar

Here are several facts you may not know about sugar, according to what was reported by “Discover Magazine” and the platform “Ajibo”:

• People have been eating sugar since ancient times, with its origins going back to the Indian subcontinent, and there is evidence to suggest that sugar was eaten early in the east -South Asia about 8,000 years ago.
• It took another two thousand years before European producers, especially Venice, began to establish their own plantations in the 15th century, making them the main sugar producer on the continent. Supply and production were still limited, as sugar was still a luxury product consumed only by the wealthy.
• When Alexander the Great and his army arrived in India about two thousand years ago and tasted sugar, they were surprised to make honey without bees.
• The English thought of sugar as a spice when it was first imported from India in the Middle Ages.
• The average American consumes about 126.4 grams of sugar per day.
• The Germans (102.9 grams) and the Dutch (102.5 grams) come next, because they share a love of sweets.
• Can you imagine eating 16 sugar cubes in one sitting? This is slightly less than what is in a 590 milliliter bottle of Coke.