International Sugar Statistics The international sugar season runs from September to August
More than 100 countries produce sugar, 80% of which is made from sugar cane grown primarily in the tropical and sub-tropical zones of the southern hemisphere, and the balance from sugar beet which is grown mainly in the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere. Generally, the costs of producing sugar from sugar cane are lower than those in respect of processing sugar beets. Currently, 70% of the world's sugar is consumed in the countries of origin, whilst the balance is traded on world markets. Because of the residual nature of the world market, the free market price is one of the most volatile of all commodity prices.
The five largest exporters in 2008/09, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, SADC and Guatemala, are expected to supply approximately 85%of all world free market exports. South Africa is currently ranked as the eighth largest exporter to the world market.
Top ten producers 2008/9:
| | PRODUCTION MILLION TONS | EXPORTS MILLION TONS | POPULATION MILLIONS | PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION | | BRAZIL | 38.633 | 23.685 | [1] | 198 | 58 | | INDIA | 16.304 | 0.237 | [15] | 1,166 | 19 | | EU | 14.865 | 0.707 | [9] | 500 | 34 | | CHINA | 13.587 | - | - | 1,338 | 10 | | THAILAND | 7.717 | 5.004 | [2] | 66 | 36 | | USA | 6.924 | - | - | 307 | 29 | | MEXICO | 5.761 | 0.707 | [9] | 111 | 49 | | SADC | 5.309 | 1.793 | [4] | 139 | 19 | | AUSTRALIA | 4.810 | 4.225 | [3] | 21 | 45 | | PAKISTAN | 4.239 | - | | 176 | 23 |
[#] = World export ranking
Global sugar production in 2008/09 is forecast at 157 million tons which, compared to the previous season, will represent an 8% production decrease, the largest annual reduction on record. Significant production declines have occurred amongst leading sugar producers, including India and the EU. | 
Global sugar consumption growth increases by about 2% per annum and in 2008/09 is forecast to reach 161 million tons. |
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The top ten producers account for around 75% of global production. | 
About 70% of world sugar production is expected to be consumed in the countries of origin, with the balance traded on world markets. Brazil remains the world's dominant exporter of sugar and in 2008/09 is forecast to export 23.7 million tons. |  | | 
Whilst EU prices have decreased as a reslut of the recent sugar regime reform in that region, they still remian at a significant premium to the world sugar price. A uniform price is paid for both ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) and EBA/LDC (Everything But Arms/Least Developed Country) sugar protocol exports. | 
Prospects for long-term consumption growth in Southern African countries remain good. | | 
Sugar prices in the South African Customs Union remain substantially below those of some developed nations. | |
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