**Market:**
– Sugar subsidies drive market costs below production cost.
– Brazil pays the most in subsidies to its sugar industry.
– The US sugar system is complex with price supports and tariffs.
– A 2018 policy proposal called Zero-for-Zero aims to eliminate sugar tariffs.
– The EU used to have quotas and subsidies for sugar production.
**Global Players:**
– The top 10 sugar-producing companies in 2010 were from various countries.
– The global sugar industry has low market concentration.
– The top four sugar producers hold less than 20% of the market.
– Südzucker AG from Germany was the largest producer in 2010.
– Brazil, France, and Thailand also had major sugar producers.
**Products:**
– Sugar industry produces various products like raw sugar and molasses.
– Other products include liquid sugar, refined sugar, and sugar alcohol.
– Brown sugar and powdered sugar are also common sugar industry products.
**Lobbying and Marketing:**
– The sugar industry engages in lobbying to minimize health concerns related to sugar.
– The industry influences medical research and public health recommendations.
– There are ongoing debates and resolutions on sugar subsidies.
– The US House has taken a stance against sugar subsidies by countries like India.
– Sugar marketing practices are under scrutiny for their impact on public health.
**Further Reading:**
– Books like “The Sugar Barons” and “Beet-Sugar Handbook” offer insights into the sugar industry.
– “Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us” delves into the impact of sugar in the food industry.
The sugar industry subsumes the production, processing and marketing of sugars (mostly sucrose and fructose). Globally, most sugar is extracted from sugar cane (~80% predominantly in the tropics) and sugar beet (~ 20%, mostly in temperate climate, like in the U.S. or Europe).
USD per pound
Sugar is used for soft drinks, sweetened beverages, convenience foods, fast food, candy, confectionery, baked products, and other sweetened foods. Sugarcane is used in the distillation of rum.
Several countries subsidize sugar. Globally in 2018, around 185 million tons of sugar was produced, led by India with 35.9 million tons, followed by Brazil and Thailand. There are more than 123 sugar-producing countries, but only 30% of the produce is traded on the international market.