Brazil and Thailand account for the majority of European cane sugar supply. Find GFSI-certified wholesale cane sugar suppliers from both origins on Nutrada, filterable by origin, form, and MOQ.
| Field | Detail |
| Botanical name | Saccharum officinarum |
| Available forms | Granulated, caster, powdered, liquid, raw, brown |
| Origins | Brazil, Thailand, Australia, Guatemala, Colombia |
| Certifications | BRCGS, IFS, FSSC 22000, EU Organic, USDA NOP |
| Common applications | Bakery, confectionery, beverages, preserves, fermentation |
| Packaging | 50kg bags, 1MT big bags, bulk vessel |
| MOQ | 25kg |
| Category | Sugars Wholesale |
ICUMSA grade determines purity level and price. Lower numbers indicate higher purity and whiter appearance.
| Form/Grade | What it means for procurement | Typical application |
| ICUMSA 45 | Highest purity (99.80% polarisation), sparkling white | Premium confectionery, pharmaceuticals |
| ICUMSA 100 | High quality refined, slightly less white | Standard food manufacturing |
| ICUMSA 150 | Standard white with slight cream tone | Bakery, everyday food production |
| Raw cane sugar (ICUMSA 600-1200) | Golden/brown color, retains molasses | Specialty products, brown sugar blending |
| VHP (Very High Polarisation) | ICUMSA 1000-1200, for further refining | Import for domestic refining operations |
| Granulated (0.6-1.2mm) | Standard crystal size | Universal food manufacturing |
| Caster/superfine | Finer grain, dissolves quickly | Beverages, light baking |
| Powdered/icing sugar | Ground to powder consistency | Confectionery, decorative applications |
Brazil dominates global cane sugar exports with production concentrated in São Paulo state, where mechanical harvesting and ethanol co-production create supply efficiencies for food manufacturers. Thailand ranks as the second-largest exporter, with sugar mills in the Northeast region processing cane from April harvest through July, creating concentrated supply windows that affect procurement timing.
Australia supplies premium raw sugar from Queensland, where strict quality controls and Canegrowers Australia certification infrastructure support pharmaceutical-grade ICUMSA specifications.
Guatemala and Colombia provide Central American origins with Fair Trade certification depth, particularly for organic and specialty brown sugar grades that command retail premiums.
Cane sugar is hygroscopic and absorbs moisture from air above 65% relative humidity, which can cause clumping and reduce shelf life. Standard packaging includes 50kg polypropylene bags with PE liners for moisture protection, or 1MT big bags for larger volumes. Store below 20°C and 65% relative humidity to maintain free-flowing characteristics and prevent color degradation. Verify the latest polarisation reading on the Certificate of Analysis, values below specification indicate quality degradation during storage or transport.
Brazil, Colombia, and Guatemala hold both EU Organic and USDA NOP certification for cane sugar production. Brazilian organic supply is concentrated in São Paulo cooperatives with established dual-certification infrastructure. Colombian organic producers typically offer smaller volume commitments but maintain Fair Trade dual-certification for retail positioning.
Consumer packaging formats include 1kg paper bags, 500g boxes, sachets, and cubes for retail and foodservice channels. MOQs start at 5MT for private label due to packaging setup costs. Fix the ICUMSA grade specification before production starts, switching between ICUMSA 45 and 150 requires different raw material sourcing and affects final product appearance.
Brazilian refineries dominate European supply with integrated ethanol facilities that create cost advantages for large-volume buyers. Thai manufacturers offer competitive pricing on raw sugar for European refining operations. Request batch-specific Certificate of Analysis with polarisation, moisture, and ash content, plus microbiological reports for pathogens including Salmonella and E. coli. Nutrada lists GFSI-certified cane sugar suppliers from Brazil, Thailand, and Australia, covering refined, raw, and organic grades across conventional and specialty supply. All orders are placed directly with certified suppliers, with no intermediary.
Last updated: Apr 1, 2026
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