This list reveals the top 10 sugar importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world sugar imports totaled US$49 billion.
African Importers
Africa imported $7.1 billion worth of sugar led by the following countries:
1. Algeria: $1 billion
2. Egypt: $821.6 million
3. South Africa: $620.6 million
4. Nigeria: $619.3 million
5. Kenya: $594.3 million
6. Morocco: $532 million
7. Somalia: $246.8 million
8. Angola: $233.7 million
9. Ghana: $212.2 million
10. Ethiopia: $207.7 million
Asian Importers
Asia imported $14.2 billion worth of sugar led by the following countries:
1. Indonesia: $2.6 billion
2. China: $1.4 billion
3. South Korea: $1.3 billion
4. Bangladesh: $1.1 billion
5. Malaysia: $1.1 billion
6. India: $862.1 million
7. Japan: $839.5 million
8. Myanmar (Burma): $525.6 million
9. Taiwan: $502.8 million
10. Philippines: $402.1 million
European Union (EU) Importers
European Union imported $12.8 billion worth of sugar led by the following EU members:
1. Germany: $1.8 billion
2. United Kingdom: $1.5 billion
3. Italy: $1.2 billion
4. Belgium: $1.12 billion
5. Netherlands: $1.05 billion
6. France: $1 billion
7. Spain: $947.8 million
8. Poland: $411.2 million
9. Ireland: $402.2 million
10. Romania: $322.4 million
Latin American and Caribbean Importers
Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $1.9 billion worth of sugar led by the following countries:
1. Peru: $332.9 million
2. Chile: $271 million
3. Colombia: $167.3 million
4. Venezuela: $162.1 million
5. Ecuador: $91.7 million
6. Haiti: $83.4 million
7. Brazil: $77.7 million
8. Uruguay: $75.5 million
9. Jamaica: $60.3 million
10. Guatemala: $60.1 million
Middle Eastern Importers
Middle East imported $4.6 billion worth of sugar led by the following countries:
1. United Arab Emirates: $1.2 billion
2. Saudi Arabia: $838.3 million
3. Iraq: $642.1 million
4. Yemen: $397.3 million
5. Iran: $330.3 million
6. Israel: $248.4 million
7. Jordan: $239.4 million
8. Syria: $206.3 million
9. Lebanon: $193.2 million
10. Kuwait: $128.5 million
North American Importers
North America imported $6.3 billion worth of sugar led by the following countries:
1. United States: $4.2 billion
2. Canada: $1.1 billion
3. Mexico: $873.1 million
Oceanian Importers
Oceania imported $673.4 million worth of sugar led by the following countries:
1. New Zealand: $305.3 million
2. Australia: $294.2 million
3. Papua New Guinea: $25.4 million
4. French Polynesia: $8.4 million
5. Fiji: $7.4 million
6. New Caledonia: $7.4 million
7. Samoa: $6.6 million
8. Solomon Islands: $6.5 million
9. Kiribati: $4.1 million
10. Vanuatu: $2.4 million
To see the 25 fastest-growing sugar importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage decline for globally imported sugar was -6.9.%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
Top Sugar Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Sugar Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
