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  • As the estimates for US beet sugar production have been revised upwards, the cane estimates have moved down.
  • This represents a total supply reduction of 100k tonnes.
  • The US therefore needs more sugar imports, but has until March to decide where from.

January WASDE Release 

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Louisiana Cane Production

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  • This means that even though the USDA have revised their total beet production up by 77k short tons, overall domestic supply is down 122k short tons (110k tonnes).
  • The USDA will need to address this supply shortfall in the March WASDE release by expanding quotas; either Mexico’s or the tariff rate quotas.
  • (Tier 2) imports are currently viable in some areas and the USDA has increased its estimate for these Tier 2 imports by 30k short tons.
  • If this trend continues, a significant part of this shortfall could be met by increased full duty paid imports of refined sugar.

Vincent O’Rourke

Vincent began his career at CZ in 2016 as an analyst in the London Office, focusing on raw sugar flows and the Refineries in North Africa and the Middle East. Since 2019 Vincent has moved to the Miami office, leading the Americas analysis (excluding Brazil) and implementing the new data capture and database processes. Vincent graduated from Edinburgh with a master’s in theology in 2015 and completed a Masters in Emerging Economies from King’s London University in 2016

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