Mar 16, 2025
IndexBox has just published a new report: EU – Sugar – Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights.
The sugar market in the European Union is expected to experience a slight increase in performance, with a projected CAGR of +0.7% in volume and +2.1% in value from 2024 to 2035. This growth is anticipated to bring the market volume to 17M tons and value to $16.5B by the end of 2035, driven by rising demand for sugar in the region.
Market Forecast
Driven by rising demand for sugar in the European Union, the market is expected to start an upward consumption trend over the next decade. The performance of the market is forecast to increase slightly, with an anticipated CAGR of +0.7% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market volume to 17M tons by the end of 2035.
In value terms, the market is forecast to increase with an anticipated CAGR of +2.1% for the period from 2024 to 2035, which is projected to bring the market value to $16.5B (in nominal wholesale prices) by the end of 2035.
ConsumptionEuropean Union’s Consumption of Sugar
After two years of growth, consumption of sugar decreased by -10.6% to 15M tons in 2024. Over the period under review, consumption recorded a mild curtailment. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 6.6% against the previous year. The volume of consumption peaked at 18M tons in 2014; however, from 2015 to 2024, consumption stood at a somewhat lower figure.
The size of the sugar market in the European Union reduced to $13B in 2024, falling by -11.2% against the previous year. This figure reflects the total revenues of producers and importers (excluding logistics costs, retail marketing costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price). In general, consumption showed a relatively flat trend pattern. As a result, consumption reached the peak level of $14.7B, and then fell in the following year.
Consumption By Country
The countries with the highest volumes of consumption in 2024 were Germany (3.6M tons), France (2.4M tons) and Italy (1.8M tons), together accounting for 50% of total consumption.
From 2013 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for Germany (with a CAGR of +1.0%), while consumption for the other leaders experienced a decline in the consumption figures.
In value terms, Germany ($3B), France ($1.9B) and Spain ($1.7B) constituted the countries with the highest levels of market value in 2024, together comprising 51% of the total market.
Among the main consuming countries, Germany, with a CAGR of +1.3%, recorded the highest rates of growth with regard to market size over the period under review, while market for the other leaders experienced a decline in the market figures.
The countries with the highest levels of sugar per capita consumption in 2024 were the Netherlands (48 kg per person), Belgium (46 kg per person) and Germany (43 kg per person).
From 2013 to 2024, the biggest increases were recorded for Germany (with a CAGR of +0.7%), while consumption for the other leaders experienced mixed trends in the per capita consumption figures.
ProductionEuropean Union’s Production of Sugar
In 2024, production of sugar increased by 0.7% to 15M tons for the first time since 2018, thus ending a five-year declining trend. Overall, production, however, saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2017 with an increase of 12%. Over the period under review, production attained the peak volume at 20M tons in 2018; however, from 2019 to 2024, production remained at a lower figure. The general negative trend in terms output was largely conditioned by a relatively flat trend pattern of the harvested area and a relatively flat trend pattern in yield figures.
In value terms, sugar production contracted to $12.7B in 2024 estimated in export price. In general, production, however, recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2023 when the production volume increased by 33% against the previous year. The level of production peaked at $13.1B in 2013; however, from 2014 to 2024, production remained at a lower figure.
Production By Country
The countries with the highest volumes of production in 2024 were Germany (4.3M tons), France (3.7M tons) and Poland (2.1M tons), with a combined 67% share of total production.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of production, amongst the main producing countries, was attained by Germany (with a CAGR of +2.0%), while production for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
ImportsEuropean Union’s Imports of Sugar
After five years of growth, purchases abroad of sugar decreased by -20.5% to 6.6M tons in 2024. In general, imports continue to indicate a slight contraction. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2022 with an increase of 13%. Over the period under review, imports attained the peak figure at 8.3M tons in 2023, and then contracted rapidly in the following year.
In value terms, sugar imports shrank notably to $6.3B in 2024. Over the period under review, imports saw a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2023 with an increase of 48% against the previous year. As a result, imports attained the peak of $7.5B, and then declined sharply in the following year.
Imports By Country
Italy (1.4M tons) and Spain (1.1M tons) were the main importers of sugar in 2024, amounting to near 22% and 17% of total imports, respectively. It was distantly followed by Belgium (657K tons), Germany (397K tons), Portugal (382K tons) and Greece (297K tons), together creating a 26% share of total imports. The following importers – Bulgaria (271K tons), France (236K tons), Hungary (233K tons) and the Netherlands (225K tons) – together made up 15% of total imports.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of purchases, amongst the key importing countries, was attained by Belgium (with a CAGR of +5.0%), while imports for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In value terms, Italy ($1.2B), Spain ($1.1B) and Belgium ($618M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2024, together accounting for 46% of total imports.
Belgium, with a CAGR of +5.8%, saw the highest growth rate of the value of imports, among the main importing countries over the period under review, while purchases for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Import Prices By Country
The import price in the European Union stood at $949 per ton in 2024, with an increase of 4.8% against the previous year. Overall, the import price recorded a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth was the most pronounced in 2023 an increase of 45% against the previous year. The level of import peaked in 2024 and is expected to retain growth in the near future.
Prices varied noticeably by country of destination: amid the top importers, the country with the highest price was France ($1,203 per ton), while Bulgaria ($767 per ton) was amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by France (+2.9%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
ExportsEuropean Union’s Exports of Sugar
After two years of decline, shipments abroad of sugar increased by 4% to 6.3M tons in 2024. Over the period under review, exports continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2018 when exports increased by 24% against the previous year. As a result, the exports reached the peak of 9.2M tons. From 2019 to 2024, the growth of the exports failed to regain momentum.
In value terms, sugar exports shrank slightly to $5.7B in 2024. In general, exports continue to indicate a relatively flat trend pattern. The pace of growth appeared the most rapid in 2023 with an increase of 40% against the previous year. As a result, the exports attained the peak of $5.8B, and then dropped slightly in the following year.
Exports By Country
The shipments of the seven major exporters of sugar, namely France, Germany, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Portugal, represented more than two-thirds of total export.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of shipments, amongst the leading exporting countries, was attained by Belgium (with a CAGR of +5.6%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
In value terms, France ($1.3B), Germany ($1.1B) and Poland ($637M) constituted the countries with the highest levels of exports in 2024, together comprising 53% of total exports.
Poland, with a CAGR of +4.2%, recorded the highest growth rate of the value of exports, in terms of the main exporting countries over the period under review, while shipments for the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.
Export Prices By Country
The export price in the European Union stood at $907 per ton in 2024, dropping by -6.1% against the previous year. In general, the export price, however, showed a relatively flat trend pattern. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in 2023 an increase of 54% against the previous year. As a result, the export price reached the peak level of $966 per ton, and then reduced in the following year.
Average prices varied noticeably amongst the major exporting countries. In 2024, major exporting countries recorded the following prices: in Germany ($948 per ton) and the Netherlands ($925 per ton), while Poland ($799 per ton) and France ($862 per ton) were amongst the lowest.
From 2013 to 2024, the most notable rate of growth in terms of prices was attained by the Czech Republic (+1.4%), while the other leaders experienced more modest paces of growth.