Sugar · importers
Japan ranks nineteenth of 96 at $1.1B in the sugars and sugar confectionery chapter, which is only a tiny part of its very large import bill.
| Market | HS 17 imports |
|---|---|
| United States | $7.2B |
| China | $4.2B |
| Indonesia | $3.6B |
| Germany | $2.6B |
| United Kingdom | $2.2B |
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.
Belgium is above and the United Arab Emirates below, all at $1.1B when rounded. Japan’s 1.7% share of reported world imports is level with both. The chapter is 0.1% of its $742.7B imports and ranks 60th among import chapters, far behind fuels at $168.7B and electrical machinery at $106.1B.
Japan grows sugar beet and cane in limited quantity, and refineries process imported raw sugar alongside domestic crops. Confectioners, beverage makers and bakers are major users, and they also buy specialty sugars and sweeteners. Buyers are often described as exacting about specification and consistency; treat that as a reason to ask for their written standards rather than as a fact about any one firm.
Ask whether the importer is a refiner or a manufacturer, and which grades it uses. Also ask about packaging preferences, since Japanese manufacturers sometimes specify bag size, print and pallet configuration in detail, and meeting those preferences can influence whether you are considered.
Sugar is among the products for which many governments use tariffs and price-support systems, and these are set by the authorities and can change. Ask the authorities and the buyer directly what applies to your origin today. China, the USA, Australia and the United Arab Emirates lead the overall source list, which covers all goods.
The $1.1B covers all of chapter 17 and includes confectionery. Re-exports can move a market’s place.
Read shipment data for the sugar heading to see receivers and weights. Once you have a shortlist, fix Incoterm, currency, payment terms and port, and contact the firms through this site’s free marketplace.
Nineteenth of 96 markets at $1.1B in 2024, a 1.7% share of reported world imports.
It is 0.1% of $742.7B and ranks 60th among import chapters.
No. Japan's total combines sugar and sweets, so the sugar-only figure is smaller.
Search sugar-heading shipment records and read consignees and weights.
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