Sugar · importers
China ranks second of 96 at $4.2B in the sugars and sugar confectionery chapter, and its refineries and food makers are among the largest sugar users anywhere.
| Market | HS 17 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $7.2B |
| Indonesia | $3.6B |
| Germany | $2.6B |
| United Kingdom | $2.2B |
| India | $1.9B |
Figures are for the whole of HS chapter 17 (sugars and sugar confectionery); sugar is only part of it. Source: UN Comtrade, as reported by national authorities; latest available year per market.
The United States leads at $7.2B and Indonesia follows at $3.6B. China’s 6.5% share of reported world imports gives it a firm second position. The chapter is only 0.2% of its $2.59T imports and ranks 47th among its import chapters, far behind electrical machinery at $583.9B and fuels at $504.0B.
China grows sugar cane and sugar beet at home, so imports mostly supplement domestic output: raw sugar for refineries when domestic production falls short, and specific grades for beverage, confectionery and baking makers. A refinery buys raw sugar in bulk against a colour and polarisation specification, while a food maker may buy refined sugar or liquid sweeteners in smaller lots.
Ask the importer which category it belongs to before you send a quotation. Because purchases are large, buyers often prefer suppliers who can commit to a schedule of cargoes across several months, backed by a bank instrument, rather than a single opportunistic parcel.
Governments often manage the volume of sugar imports through quotas, tariffs or licensing, and China is no exception. These arrangements can change, so confirm the current position with the authorities and your buyer before agreeing a price, and check foreign-supplier registration and inspection requirements too. The Republic of Korea, the USA, Japan and Australia lead the overall source list, which covers all goods.
The $4.2B covers the whole of HS chapter 17, which includes sugar confectionery as well as sugar, and re-exports can distort rankings.
Shipment data for the sugar heading names the receiver of each cargo with its weight. Use it to separate refiners from trading companies, then fix Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port before contacting your shortlist through this site’s free marketplace.
Second of 96 markets at $4.2B in 2024, a 6.5% share of reported world imports.
Imports supplement domestic output when it falls short and supply specific grades to food makers.
No. China's total counts confectionery goods as well as sugar.
Read sugar-heading shipment records and compare consignees by cargo weight.
Keep exploring