Brazilian exports of both raw and refined sugar were up significantly in 2010.
The total value of raw sugar cane shipped from Brazil to the rest of the world soared 55.7% to US$9.3 billion.
Overall exports of refined pure sucrose rose by a smaller but still impressive 44% to $3.5 billion.
The analysis below ranks Brazil’s top export trade partners in terms of raw or refined sugar purchased in 2010.
Brazil’s Raw Sugar Cane Exports
The following top trade partners consumed 44.3% of Brazil’s total raw sugar cane exports in 2010. For raw sugar cane, the first six digits from the harmonized tariff system (HTS) code are 170111.
- Russia … US$1.6 billion (16.9% of total Brazilian sugar cane exports)
- India … $875.5 million (9.4% of total)
- China … $505.5 million (5.4% of total)
- Malaysia … $370 million (4% of total)
- Canada … $319.2 million (3.4% of total)
- United States … $176.1 million (1.9% of total)
- United Kingdom … $170.1 million (1.8% of total)
- South Korea … $58.7 million (0.7% of total)
- Japan … $52.9 million (0.6% of total)
- Netherlands … $11.5 million (0.1% of total).
Three emerging BRIC economies (Russia, India and China) accounted for 31.7% of Brazil’s overall raw sugar cane shipments in 2010.
Brazil’s Refined Sugar Exports
Compared to sugar cane, the following trade partners consumed a much smaller amount of Brazilian refined sugar (pure sucrose), both in terms of dollar amounts and percentages. For refined sugar, the first six digits of the HTS code are 170199.
- India … US$110.6 million (3.2% of total Brazilian refined sugar exports)
- Canada … $49.1 million (1.4% of total)
- United States … $28 million (0.8% of total)
- Mexico … $18.6 million (0.6% of total)
- Russia … $15.7 million (0.5% of total)
- Argentina … $13.6 million (0.4% of total)
- China … $9.3 million (0.3% of total)
- Malaysia … $8.2 million (0.2% of total)
- Netherlands … $6.4 million (0.17% of total)
- Germany … $5.5 million (0.16% of total).
Although India is the leading importer of Brazilian refined sugar, two so-called developed nations Canada and the United States are near the top of list of refined sugar customers. This may have to do with lower labor costs for refining sugar in Brazil.
Strong Brazilian Trade Advantages in Sugar
During 2010, Brazil imported a paltry $27,855 worth of raw sugar cane from the rest of the world. Brazilian imports of refined sugar were higher at $147,227.
Both amounts fall far short of the $12.8 billion in total raw and refined sugar that Brazil exported last year.
While Brazil is clearly an agriculture-based economy, producing sugar clearly meets the ongoing food needs of customers around the world.
Brazilian sugar exports must be considered as tremendous competitive advantages in international trade.
Sources:
- Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook (accessed May 26, 2011).
- United Nations’ Comtrade Database (accessed May 26, 2011).
Daniel Workman - A senior business and finance writer who also does French translations, notably international trade and insurance materials.
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