Summary

The global industrial sugar market has been experiencing growth since 2020. Despite the inherent yearly fluctuations in production due to various factors such as climatic conditions and changes in trade policies, the market reached a value of $48.4 billion in 2023. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0%, it is expected to increase to $59.2 billion by 2028. During this period, sugar production rose from 166.6 million tons in 2019 to 183.5 million tons in 2023, signifying a 10.1% increase. Brazil maintained its position as the leading sugar producer with a 22.3% share, followed by India with 19.6%. On the consumption side, India was the largest consumer, accounting for 17.1% of global consumption in 2023. The Italian sugar market reflected these global trends with a noted decrease in domestic sugar beet production, leading to increased dependency on international imports. The consumer price index for sugar also rose significantly by 54.6 points between January 2022 and January 2024, largely due to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, impacting production costs and consumer prices in Italy..Italian Sugar Market: A Sweet Spot for Growth Amidst Global Developments The sugar market in Italy reveals a multifaceted landscape that is influenced by global production dynamics, shifting consumption patterns, and significant events like the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In recent years, the market has experienced fluctuations, driven by various demand drivers and regulatory frameworks that govern its operation. Global sugar production has shown significant growth between 2019 and 2023, with an increase from about 165 to 185 million tons, marking a significant rise. This increased production reflects the sheer size and variability of the global sugar industry, impacted by factors such as agricultural policies, climate conditions, and changing dietary habits. Brazil leads the sugar production, contributing over 20 percent to the world’s output, followed by other major producers like India and the European Union. In Italy, sugar is a staple ingredient in both household kitchens and industrial applications. Between 2017 and 2022, Italian households have shown a marginal increase in their monthly sugar expenditure, rising from about 2.5 to 2.6 euros. This uptick, particularly noticeable between 2021 and 2022, may be largely attributed to the inflationary trends induced by geopolitical tensions, which saw consumer sugar prices soaring by 54.6 percent and production costs by a similar margin. Demand in Italy also comes from confectionery enterprises, with a specific focus on rusks, cookies, and preserved pastry products. Despite a decrease in the number of these enterprises, the production sold in both volume and value has shown growth, signaling the resilience and potential for the sugar market in Italy. The production volume has increased by over 20 percent between 2015 and 2022, and the value has risen by about 14 percent during the same period. The Italian sugar market structure tends toward concentration, with a limited number of active companies in the "Sugar Production" sector under Ateco Code 10.81. Between 2017 and 2021, the number of active enterprises modestly increased from about 10 to 15. However, employment within these enterprises experienced a notable decrease, with the number of employees shrinking from about 650 to under 500. Moreover, the legal forms of these enterprises were primarily joint-stock and limited liability companies. Sugar wholesale has been expanding in Italy, doubling in the number of active enterprises in the "Wholesale trade of sugar, chocolate, confectionery, and bakery products" sector (Ateco Code 46.36) from about 2.Main Players Shaping the Sweet Landscape of Italy's Sugar Market The sugar market in Italy is characterized by key players whose operations span across production, processing, and distribution, each contributing uniquely to the industry's robust ecosystem. In this quintessentially sweet sector, a few companies stand tall among the rest, ensuring the continuous supply and availability of this essential commodity to Italian consumers and businesses. Let's delve into the distinctive profiles of these market shapers. **Italia Zuccheri Commerciale s.r.l.** Italia Zuccheri Commerciale is a testament to the power of a short supply chain, exclusively sourcing its sugar from domestic beet farms. A guardian of Italian sugar-making tradition, it showcases how sustainability can be weaved into the production process — a stance that mirrors the modern consumer's appreciation for transparent and eco-conscious practices. **Inagra s.r.l.** A company that traces its origins back to the energetic '60s, Inagra stands tall as an emblem of consistency and versatility in the Italian sugar market. Specializing in the importing and packaging of both conventional and organic sugar, as well as other key ingredients like butter and powdered milk, Inagra maintains a pivotal role in the pantry of both everyday consumers and large-scale retailers. **Rader s.p.a.** Rader's expertise in trading sugar, chocolate, and confectionery positions it as a dynamic player within the sweetened aisles of Italy's food sector. Its strong portfolio and commitment to quality assure that whether for a chocolatier or a home kitchen, the sweetest, most flavorful ingredients are within reach. **Grandi Zuccheri s.p.a.** With a legacy dating back to the pre-war era, Grandi Zuccheri epitomizes the evolutionary nature of the sugar industry. Striding beyond its core, the company has also ventured into the dairy products market, signaling its adaptive strategy to diversify and thereby enhance its footprint in the food sector. **Csapo s.r.l.** Emerging in the 1950s, Csapo's trajectory in the sugar trade arena showcases a blend of local savoir-faire and global strategic outreach. Under the helm of Giorgio Bonsembiante, the company has not only cemented its place in traditional sugar trade but also shown foresight by delving into the burgeoning market of natural sweeteners — a move that aligns with the shifting health-conscious preferences of consumers. Together, these companies form a microcosm of Italy's broader sugar market —

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Summary and extracts

1 Market Overview

1.1 Definition and presentation

The name "sugar" refers to sucrose, a sweet-tasting disaccharide composed of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule harvested mainly from sugar plants. Sugar cane and sugar beet are the two main sources of sugar; additional sources of sugar include coconut and maple trees. Brazil and India, which together account for one-third of world sugar production, dominate the world market; the European Union is the third largest producer in the world. Sugar is the basic building block of many food products such as snacks, cakes, cookies, and is present in most carbonated beverages. Sugar has applications not only in the food sector but also in the pharmaceutical sector such as in the production of syrups and children's medicines. The extraction techniques for these two plants differ, but purification, concentration, refining and crystallization follow the same course. We get about 15 kilograms of crystalline sucrose and about 5 kilograms of molasses from 100 kilograms of beets, which still contain about two and a half kilograms of sugar.

in 2023 the global industrial sugar market reached a total value of 48.4 billion dollars. In the period 2024-2028 this market is expected to grow modestly, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0 percent . By the end of the period, the world industrial sugar market could reach a total value of 59.2 billion dollars. The world's leading sugar producers are Brazil and India, which contributed 41.9% of world production in 2023. On the consumption side, India and the European Union collect the largest shares worldwide and together contribute 26.6% of the total.

This study focuses on the sugar market in Italy, analyzing consumption trends, competitive dynamics and growth prospects for the sector. For information on related markets, such as confectionery, please consult the specific studies available in the Businesscoot catalog.

1.2 The global market

in ****, the global industrial sugar market reached a total value of $**.* billion. This market is expected to grow modestly over the period ****-****, with a projected compound annual growth rate (***) of *.*%. By the end of the period, the world industrial sugar market could reach a total value of $**.* billion. Industrial sugar ...

1.3 The Italian market

To analyze the Italian sugar market, the total turnover of sugar production enterprises and sugar production in the territory are considered.

The total turnover of active enterprises under Ateco Code **.** "Sugar production" appears to have been declining in recent years. Between **** and ****, there is a **.* percent decline in total turnover, with ...

1.4 Import - Export

hS Code **** "Cane and beet sugar, chemically pure sucrose in solid form" is considered for the analysis of sugar trade flows to and from Italy.

Between **** and ****, growth is shown in both imports and exports. Regarding the latter, during the period analyzed, the total value of Italian exports grew by **.* percent, ...

1.5 The consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict

the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in February **** has led to, among other things, a general increase in consumer prices. The sugar consumption sector is particularly affected by the consequences of the conflict. Between January **** and January ****, the consumer price index for sugar rose by **.* points, indicating a **.* percent increase in ...

2 Demand analysis

2.1 Demand in Italy

In order to analyze the demand for sugar in Italy, the trend of average monthly household expenditure on sugar purchases and the development of confectionery enterprises in Italy are considered. Regarding the second point, enterprises under Ateco Codes **.** "Production of rusks and cookies; production of preserved pastry products" and **.** "Production of ...

2.2 Demand drivers

The demand for sugar finds explanation in a multiplicity of aspects, as sugar plays a central role in multiple aspects of cuisine, gastronomy and global food culture:

Sweetening

Sugar is the ultimate sweetener in many cultures, used to sweeten beverages such as coffee, tea, juices, and cocktails, as well as to ...

2.3 Geographical distribution of demand

To visualize the geographic distribution of sugar demand in Italy, the distribution of average monthly household expenditure and that of enterprises active under Ateco Code **.** "Production of cocoa, chocolate, candies and confectionery" in each Italian macro-region are considered.

As for the average monthly household expenditure, the Mezzogiorno has the highest value ...

2.4 New demand trends: organic sugar

The growing demand for organic sugar reflects a broader trend toward conscious and sustainable consumption, with consumers seeking more natural and ethically produced products. Interest in organic sugar is fueled by several factors, including health concerns, the environmental impact of conventional sugar production, and the quality of the final product. Here ...

3 Market structure

3.1 The market structure

to analyze the market structure in Italy, enterprises under Ateco Code **.** "Sugar production" are considered. In particular, the number of active enterprises, the number of employees in active enterprises and the legal form of activities are analyzed.

Number of enterprises

Sugar production in Italy appears to be extremely concentrated around a ...

3.2 Sugar Production

The sugar chain consists of several stages, the main ones of which are as follows.

Sugar, also called sucrose, is formed by photosynthesis in sugar plants. Sugar plants, namely sugar cane and sugar beets, are harvested and transported to sugar mills, often near fields.

Industrial processing is the extraction of sugar ...

3.3 Main Actors

The following is a list of the main players active in sugar production in the Italian market:

Suedzucker: founded in **** by the merger of five sugar companies, it has established itself as the world's largest sugar producer. The company has marked its path with a constant commitment to innovation and growth, ...

3.4 The distribution

Wholesale

The sugar wholesale industry is expanding in Italy. Between **** and ****, the total number of active enterprises increased from **** to ****, marking a growth of **.*%. In particular, as shown in the graph below, almost all of the growth is concentrated in the two-year period ****-****, when the number of enterprises grew by ...

4 Supply analysis

4.1 Types of sugar

There are several types of sugar on the market, the most popular of which are definitely white and cane sugar. These differ because of the molasses. This syrupy, brown compound is a by-product of sucrose refining; nothing more than a sugar solution formed during the boiling of beets in water, or ...

4.2 Prices

Between **** and ****, the consumer price index for sugar increased **.* points. This is reflected in a **.* percent price increase for consumers. However, as shown in the graph below and as detailed in Section *.*, the price increase is concentrated in the two-year period ****-****, when due to the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict ...

5 Regulations

5.1 Regulation

The sugar market, as with many other markets for agricultural products, is regulated by both national and European laws. The legislative framework is aimed at ensuring the quality, safety and origin of the product consumed. Some of the main laws related to the sugar market in Italy are:

Regulation (***) No. ****/****: establishing ...

6 Positioning of actors

6.1 Segmentation

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Latest news

Cristal Union's Sainte-Emilie sugar refinery invests in decarbonation - 04/09/2023
  • Investment in a beet pulp drying unit: €25 million
  • Cristal Union Group sales in 2022: 2 billion euros
  • Number of Cristal Union sugar factories in France: 8
Cristal Union in top form - 08/06/2023
  • France's second-largest sugar producer: Cristal Union
  • Record results for fiscal 2022-2023
  • 2,000 employees and 9,000 cooperative members
  • 2.3 billion euros in sales last year (up 30%).
Sugar: a high price for decarbonization - 06/04/2023
  • Hundreds of millions of euros are needed to decarbonize the industrial sites that emit the most CO2.
  • Sugar manufacturers are among the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide.
  • The Cristal Union group estimates the total cost of decarbonizing its 8 French sugar factories at over €1 billion, or 59% of its total sales.
  • By 2050, all Cristal Union sites could be energy self-sufficient.
Cristal Union strengthens its position in specialty alcohols - 06/07/2022
  • Cristal Union produces six million hectolitres of agricultural alcohol a year, in addition to its sugar business.
  • Half of this production is considered "specialty" bioethanol, destined for the perfume, cosmetics, spirits, detergents and pharmaceutical markets. The other half is used for fuel production.
  • Cristal Union expands its regenerated alcohol unit in Aube
  • The site recovers unfit-for-sale products from its customers, purifies them and returns them to the market
  • Cristal Union operates three other sites in France
Cristal Union to pay beet growers more - 13/06/2022
  • Union Cristal has increased its net profit by 40% over 2021-2022, and raised its beet growers' remuneration by 16%
  • The group aims to raise its price to 35 euros by 2022
  • Debt reduced by 9% to 334 million euros on sales of 1.8 billion euros, up 6.4% thanks in large part to soaring prices
  • After reaping substantial profits from sales of hydroalcoholic gel during Covid, Cristal is counting on further increases in ethanol sales

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Südzucker
Cristal Union
Co.Pro.B.
Eridania s.p.a
Srb s.p.a
Italia Zuccheri Commerciale s.r.l
Inagra s.r.l
Rader s.p.a

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