Sugar industry

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Sugar Prices 1962-2022
USD per pound Sugar Prices 1962-2022.webp
Sugar Prices 1962-2022
USD per pound

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).

Contents

Sugar beets awaiting processing at the Holly Sugar Corporation plant near Brawley, California in 1970 TRUCKLOADS OF SUGAR BEETS WILL BE PROCESSED AT THE HOLLY SUGAR CORPORATION PLANT NEAR BRAWLEY IN THE IMPERIAL VALLEY - NARA - 548983.jpg
Sugar beets awaiting processing at the Holly Sugar Corporation plant near Brawley, California in 1970

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. [1] Globally in 2018, around 185 million tons of sugar was produced, led by India with 35.9 million tons, followed by Brazil and Thailand. [2] There are more than 123 sugar-producing countries, but only 30% of the produce is traded on the international market.

Market

Sugar subsidies have driven market costs for sugar well below the cost of production. As of 2019, 3/4 of world sugar production is never traded on the open market. Brazil controls half the global market, paying the most ($2.5 billion per year) in subsidies to its sugar industry. [3]

The US sugar system is complex, using price supports, domestic marketing allotments, and tariff-rate quotas. [4] It directly supports sugar processors rather than farmers growing sugar crops. [4] [3] The US government also uses tariffs to keep the US domestic price of sugar 64% to 92% higher than the world market price, costing American consumers $3.7 billion per year. [4] A 2018 policy proposal to eliminate sugar tariffs, called "Zero-for-Zero", is currently (March 2018) before the US Congress. [3] [5] Previous reform attempts have failed. [6]

The European Union (EU) is a leading sugar exporter. The Common Agricultural Policy of the EU used to set maximum quotas for production and exports, and a subsidized sugar sales with an EU-guaranteed minimum price. [7] [8] Large import tariffs were also used to protect the market. [7] In 2004, the EU was spending €3.30 in subsidies to export €1 worth of sugar, and some sugar processors, like British Sugar, had a 25% profit margin. [9]

A 2004 Oxfam report called EU sugar subsidies "dumping" and said they harm the world's poor. [9] A WTO ruling against the EU quota and subsidy system in 2005-2006 [10] forced the EU to cut its minimum price and quotas, and stop doing intervention buying. [7] The EU abolished some quotas in 2015, [11] [12] but minimum prices remain. [11] [13] [14] Tariffs also persist for most countries. [14] In 2009, the EU granted Least Developed Countries (LDCs) zero-tariff access to the EU market [7] as part of the Everything but Arms initiative. [8]

As of 2018, India, Thailand, and Mexico also subsidize sugar. [3]

Global players

The top 10 sugar-producing companies based on production in 2010: [15]

RankCompany2010/11 Output [Mt]Country
1. Südzucker AG4.2Germany
2. Cosan SA Industria & Comercio4.1Brazil
3. British Sugar Plc3.9UK
4. Tereos Internacional SA3.6France
5. Mitr Phol Sugar Corp.2.7Thailand
6. Nordzucker Gmbh & Co KG2.5Germany
7. Louis Dreyfus 1.8Netherlands
8. Wilmar International Ltd.1.5Singapore
9. Thai Roong Ruang Sugar Group1.5Thailand
10. Turkiye Seker Fabrikalari 1.34Turkey

The global sugar industry has a low market share concentration. The top four sugar producers account for less than 20.0% of the market. [16]

Products

Lobbying and marketing

The sugar industry engages in sugar marketing and lobbying, minimizing the adverse health effects of sugar—obesity and tooth decay—and influencing medical research and public health recommendations. [17] [18] [19] [20]

Organizations

History of the sugar industry

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sucrose</span> Disaccharide made of glucose and fructose

Sucrose, a disaccharide, is a sugar composed of glucose and fructose subunits. It is produced naturally in plants and is the main constituent of white sugar. It has the molecular formula C
12
H
22
O
11
.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common Agricultural Policy</span> Agricultural policy of the European Union

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the agricultural policy of the European Union. It implements a system of agricultural subsidies and other programmes. It was introduced in 1962 and has since then undergone several changes to reduce the EEC budget cost and consider rural development in its aims. It has however, been criticised on the grounds of its cost, its environmental, and humanitarian effects.

A subsidy or government incentive is a type of government expenditure for individuals and households, as well as businesses with the aim of stabilizing the economy. It ensures that individuals and households are viable by having access to essential goods and services while giving businesses the opportunity to stay afloat and/or competitive. Subsidies not only promote long term economic stability but also help governments to respond to economic shocks during a recession or in response to unforeseen shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural policy</span> Laws relating to domestic agriculture and foreign-imported agricultural products

Agricultural policy describes a set of laws relating to domestic agriculture and imports of foreign agricultural products. Governments usually implement agricultural policies with the goal of achieving a specific outcome in the domestic agricultural product markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agricultural subsidy</span> Governmental subsidy paid to farmers and agribusinesses

An agricultural subsidy is a government incentive paid to agribusinesses, agricultural organizations and farms to supplement their income, manage the supply of agricultural commodities, and influence the cost and supply of such commodities.

Dumping, in economics, is a form of predatory pricing, especially in the context of international trade. It occurs when manufacturers export a product to another country at a price below the normal price with an injuring effect. The objective of dumping is to increase market share in a foreign market by driving out competition and thereby create a monopoly situation where the exporter will be able to unilaterally dictate price and quality of the product. Trade treaties might include mechanisms to alleviate problems related to dumping, such as countervailing duty penalties and anti-dumping statutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cash crop</span> Agricultural crop grown to sell for profit

A cash crop, also called profit crop, is an agricultural crop which is grown to sell for profit. It is typically purchased by parties separate from a farm. The term is used to differentiate marketed crops from staple crop in subsistence agriculture, which are those fed to the producer's own livestock or grown as food for the producer's family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trade barrier</span> Restrictions limiting international trade

Trade barriers are government-induced restrictions on international trade. According to the theory of comparative advantage, trade barriers are detrimental to the world economy and decrease overall economic efficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-tariff barriers to trade</span> Type of trade barriers

Non-tariff barriers to trade are trade barriers that restrict imports or exports of goods or services through mechanisms other than the simple imposition of tariffs. Such barriers are subject to controversy and debate, as they may comply with international rules on trade yet serve protectionist purposes.

Trade can be a key factor in economic development. The prudent use of trade can boost a country's development and create absolute gains for the trading partners involved. Trade has been touted as an important tool in the path to development by prominent economists. However trade may not be a panacea for development as important questions surrounding how free trade really is and the harm trade can cause domestic infant industries to come into play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-fructose corn syrup</span> Processed corn syrup

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), also known as glucose–fructose, isoglucose and glucose–fructose syrup, is a sweetener made from corn starch. As in the production of conventional corn syrup, the starch is broken down into glucose by enzymes. To make HFCS, the corn syrup is further processed by D-xylose isomerase to convert some of its glucose into fructose. HFCS was first marketed in the early 1970s by the Clinton Corn Processing Company, together with the Japanese Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, where the enzyme was discovered in 1965.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agriculture in Turkey</span> Farming of plants and animals in Turkey

Agriculture is still an important sector of Turkey's economy, and the country is one of the world's top ten agricultural producers. Wheat, sugar beet, milk, poultry, cotton, vegetables and fruit are major products; and Turkey is the world's largest grower of hazelnuts, apricots, and oregano.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food vs. fuel</span> Debate concerning diversion of food supply for biofuels production

Food versus fuel is the dilemma regarding the risk of diverting farmland or crops for biofuels production to the detriment of the food supply. The biofuel and food price debate involves wide-ranging views, and is a long-standing, controversial one in the literature. There is disagreement about the significance of the issue, what is causing it, and what can or should be done to remedy the situation. This complexity and uncertainty is due to the large number of impacts and feedback loops that can positively or negatively affect the price system. Moreover, the relative strengths of these positive and negative impacts vary in the short and long terms, and involve delayed effects. The academic side of the debate is also blurred by the use of different economic models and competing forms of statistical analysis.

Energy subsidies are measures that keep prices for customers below market levels, or for suppliers above market levels, or reduce costs for customers and suppliers. Energy subsidies may be direct cash transfers to suppliers, customers, or related bodies, as well as indirect support mechanisms, such as tax exemptions and rebates, price controls, trade restrictions, and limits on market access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biofuels by region</span> Use of biofuel as energy source across the world

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dairy and poultry supply management in Canada</span> Agricultural policy framework in Canada

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trump administration farmer bailouts</span> Farmer bailouts during the presidency of Donald Trump

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The Common Market Organization for Sugar regulates the sugar market in the European Union. For a long time, it was also known as the EU sugar quota system, after its most notable aspect. The sugar production quotas were in place from 1968 to 2017. Before ending the system the quota system, a thorough restructuring of the sugar production sector took place between 2006 and 2010. What now remains of the Common Market Organization is a much looser regulation.

References

  1. "Resolution In US House Against Subsidies On Sugar By Countries Including India". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  2. "Sugar: World Markets and Trade" (PDF). Foreign Agricultural Service, US Department of Agriculture. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Phillips, Judson (16 March 2018). "Sugar, steel subsidies are anything but sweet". The Washington Times . Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  4. 1 2 3 "Sugar and sweeteners: Policy". US Department of Agriculture. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  5. Romano, Robert (2017-01-17). "Yoho Zero for Zero sugar policy is a trade win-win for everyone | Congressman Ted Yoho". yoho.house.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-01-19. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  6. Edwards, Chris (2007-06-20). "Why Congress Should Repeal Sugar Subsidy | Cato Institute". Cato.org. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Business | Q&A: Sugar subsidies". BBC News. 2005-09-19. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  8. 1 2 "Food, Farming, Fisheries | European Commission" (PDF). ec.europa.eu. October 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-25. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  9. 1 2 "Dumping on the world - How EU sugar policies hurt poor countries" (PDF). oxfam.org. March 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  10. "Brazil Claims Victory After WTO Ruling on EU Sugar Subsidies". ictsd.org. 6 August 2004. Archived from the original on 2018-08-20. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  11. 1 2 "Sugar | European Commission". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  12. Burrell, Alison; Himics, Mihaly; Van Doorslaer, Benjamin; Ciaian, Pavel; Shrestha, Shailesh (2014). EU sugar policy : a sweet transition after 2015. Publications Office of the European Union. doi:10.2791/68116. ISBN   978-92-79-35567-7. ISSN   1831-9424 . Retrieved 2021-05-06.{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  13. Viljoen, Willemien (8 May 2014). "The end of the EU sugar quota and the implication for African producers". tralac.org. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  14. 1 2 Roberts, Dan (27 March 2017). "Sweet Brexit: what sugar tells us about Britain's future outside the EU". The Guardian . Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  15. Chanjaroen, Chanyaporn (November 4, 2011). "Suedzucker Leads the Top 10 Sugar-Producing Companies". Bloomberg . Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  16. "Global Sugar Manufacturing: Market Research Report". IBISWorld. 31 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  17. Sifferlin, Alexandra (10 October 2016). "Soda Companies Fund 96 Health Groups In the U.S." Time. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
  18. Mozaffarian, Dariush (2 May 2017). "Conflict of Interest and the Role of the Food Industry in Nutrition Research". JAMA. 317 (17): 1755–1756. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.3456. ISSN   0098-7484. PMID   28464165.
  19. Schillinger, Dean; Tran, Jessica; Mangurian, Christina; Kearns, Cristin (20 December 2016). "Do Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Cause Obesity and Diabetes? Industry and the Manufacture of Scientific Controversy" (PDF). Annals of Internal Medicine . 165 (12): 895–897. doi:10.7326/L16-0534. ISSN   0003-4819. PMC   7883900 . PMID   27802504 . Retrieved 2018-03-21.(original url, paywalled: Author's conflict of interest disclosure forms)
  20. O’Connor, Anahad (31 October 2016). "Studies Linked to Soda Industry Mask Health Risks". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2018-03-23.

Further reading