How Do I Invest in Sugar? (2024)

How Do I Invest in Sugar? (1)

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At one time, sugar was a luxury only the rich could afford. The widespread cultivation of sugar cane and sugar beets changed that and made sugar affordable to everyone. Over 70 percent of the world’s supply comes from sugar cane, and sugar beet production makes up the remaining 30 percent. Brazil and Indonesia are the largest producers of sugar cane, while the European Union and Ukraine are the leading sugar beet producers. You can invest in this sweet commodity in numerous ways, depending on your risk tolerance.

Step 1

Trade sugar commodity futures contracts if you want to invest in the physical commodity. Sugar is listed on the Inter Continental Exchange, or ICE, under the symbol "SB." Sugar No. 11 is the benchmark for the world’s raw sugar trade and is known as “World Sugar.” One sugar contract controls 112,000 pounds, or 50 long tons, of sugar. Sugar’s price is quoted in U.S. currency. A move of 1/100 of a cent is worth $11.20 per contract.

Step 2

Depositing an initial margin amount of $3,780 for each sugar contract you want to trade is required by all brokerage firms. The maintenance margin for each contract is $2,700. Sugar is a volatile commodity to trade and is known for experiencing unexpected price swings.

Step 3

Trading sugar commodity futures options is a less risky way to take advantage of sugar’s price volatility. Each futures option controls one commodity futures contract. Call and put options give you the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying futures contract at a set price before expiration. If you think the price of sugar will rise, you would buy a call option. If you think the price will fall, you would buy a put option. You don’t need to open a margin account to buy calls or puts. Your risk is limited to what you pay for the option.

Step 4

Research some of the exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, that invest in the sugar industry. The Barclays iPath Dow Jones-UBS Sugar Total Return Sub-Index (NYSE: SGG) doesn’t hold the physical commodity. Instead, it tracks the price movements of the Dow Jones AIG Sugar Sub-Index. If you prefer investing in an ETF that trades sugar futures contracts, check out the iPath Pure Beta Sugar (NYSE: SGAR) and Teucrium Sugar Fund (NYSE: CANE). Both ETFs trade on the New York Stock Exchange and you can buy or sell shares through your online trading account.

References

Tips

  • Use the information on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's website to get sugar crop production information and updates throughout the growing season.

Warnings

  • Sugar commodity futures trading is risky. Only trade with money you can afford to lose.

Writer Bio

Based in St. Petersburg, Fla., Karen Rogers covers the financial markets for several online publications. She received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of South Florida.

How Do I Invest in Sugar? (2024)

FAQs

How Do I Invest in Sugar? ›

Sugar is often traded using futures – contracts in which you agree to exchange a set amount of the underlying commodity at a set price on a set date. These contracts are traded on futures exchanges, such as the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

Can I buy stock in sugar? ›

Those seeking to invest in sugar stocks need to take a unique approach. That's because no pure sugar-producing companies trade on major U.S. stock exchanges. Instead, a couple of companies produce sugar along with other agricultural products or as part of a diversified portfolio.

Is it good to invest in sugar? ›

Furthermore, the sugar industry is backed by strong fundamentals, with factors such as increasing demand, government support, and technological advancements driving growth. Hence, investing in sugar sector stocks can offer significant growth potential along with resilience in uncertain market conditions.

Is there an ETF for sugar? ›

Sugar Overview

With 1 ETF traded in the U.S. markets, Sugar ETF gathers total assets under management of $32.82M. The average expense ratio is 1.14%. Sugar ETF can be found in the following asset class: Commodities.

Which stock is best in sugar industry? ›

The Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) company was established on July 14th, 1975. It is a significant integrated sugar manufacturer in India. The Company produces and sells sugar primarily. It is a renowned company in the stock market and is considered a top choice by many traders.

How much is sugar stock? ›

Interactive chart of historical daily sugar prices back to 1979. The price shown is in U.S. Dollars per pound. The current price of sugar as of May 26, 2023 is $0.2541 per pound.

What is the stock price of sugar? ›

List of all sugar sector Stocks with Share Prices
CompanyCMPChange
Ugar Sugar Works116.85
Magadh Sugar397.9516.15
Avadh Sugar515.220.3
Rajshree Sugars39.71.55
22 more rows

How long can you stock sugar? ›

Commercial sugars (granular, syrup, and honey) have an indefinite shelf life due to their resistance to microbial growth. However, sugars have a best-if-used by date of approximately 2 years for quality concerns.

Why all sugar stocks are falling? ›

Owing to low sugarcane yields and inability to absorb fixed costs sugar stocks are falling. Sugar stocks were already under pressure because of ban on sugar exports.

What is the largest sugar company? ›

U.S. Sugar Corporation is a privately owned agricultural business based in Clewiston, Florida. The company farms over 230,000 acres of land in the counties of Hendry, Glades, Martin, and Palm Beach. It is the largest producer of sugarcane in the United States by volume, producing over 700,000 tonnes per year.

Where can I trade sugar? ›

The sugar commodity is traded in the International Exchange (ICE), Kansai Commodities Exchange (KEX), Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange (BF&M), National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), National Commodity Exchange Limited (NCEL), Zhengzou Commodity Exchange (CZCE) And the Multi Commodity Exchange ( ...

What is the forecast for sugar trading? ›

Sugar for total and food use in 2023/24 is set at 12.815 million STRV and 12.675 million respectively, both unchanged from 2022/23. The 2023/24 ending stocks are 1.444 million STRV and the stocks-to-use ratio is 11.3 percent.

What is the ticker for sugar futures? ›

11 Sugar (YO:NMX)

Who is the largest purchaser of sugar? ›

Coca-Cola is the world's largest buyer of sugar and controls 25% of the global soft drink market. Its portfolio of 500 brands includes Sprite, Fanta, and Minute Maid juices.

What company sells the most sugar? ›

Global players
RankCompanyCountry
1.Südzucker AGGermany
2.Cosan SA Industria & ComercioBrazil
3.British Sugar PlcUK
4.Tereos Internacional SAFrance
6 more rows

Who invested in sugar? ›

Ranveer Singh invests in beauty company Sugar Cosmetics.

Are sugar prices going up? ›

LA QUINTA, CALIF. — The consensus from market analysts speaking at the International Sweetener Colloquium is that domestic sugar prices for the 2023-24 marketing year are up, and they're likely going to stay up or move higher.

What is the outlook for sugar in 2023? ›

Outlook​ The USDA predicts that global sugar output will rise 1.6% in 2023 to 183 million tonnes, while Krungsri Research sees production expanding by another 2.0-3.0% annually over 2024 and 2025.

Why is sugar so expensive right now? ›

Prices have been driven up by unseasonal rainfall in India, a poor European beat crop, summer drought conditions as well as OPEC+'s oil output cuts.

Which sugar stocks to buy today? ›

Based on marketcap, these are the top sugar companies in India:
  • #1 SHREE RENUKA SUGARS.
  • #2 E.I.D. PARRY.
  • #3 BALRAMPUR CHINI.
  • #4 TRIVENI ENGG.
  • #5 DALMIA BHARAT SUG.

Why is sugar traded? ›

Sugar trading basics

Due to its versatility, sugar has captured the attention of traders and investors all over the world. They often choose this market because of its size and volatile nature, which offers the opportunity to profit whether its price is rising or falling.

Which share to purchase today? ›

Stocks to Buy Today
STOCKACTIONTRADE PRICE
RAINBUY167
OBEROIRLTYBUY1019
VOLTASBUY815
DEEPAKNTRBUY2115
1 more row

Does sugar go bad? ›

"Technically sugar never spoils," explain food safety experts from the US Department of Agriculture's Food Service and Inspection Service, though they do add, "for best quality it is recommended to use within two years of opening."

Can I store sugar in a 5 gallon bucket? ›

Salt and Sugar have an indefinite shelf life in a 5 gallon bucket. Preppers should be using plastic buckets because, unlike store-bought packaged goods, they are effective for long term storage.

Why sugar shares are increasing? ›

It is because sugar stocks are considered to be cyclical in nature. The fortunes of the sugar stocks ebb and flow with sugar prices, which in turn depend on sugar production and supply. Even with demand being stable, fluctuations in production/supply cause prices to rise and fall.

Is sugar a big market? ›

The market size, measured by revenue, of the Sugar Processing industry was $13.5bn in 2022. What was the growth rate of the Sugar Processing industry in the US in 2022?

How large is the sugar market? ›

Chicago, May 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The industrial sugar market is projected to reach US$59.1 billion by 2028 from US$46.4 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period in terms of value.

What is the oldest sugar company? ›

Imperial Sugar Company is the oldest extant business in Texas. Started in 1843 in Sugar Land, a place named for the product the company processes, the company's changing ownership marked its early history.

Who is the largest sugar producer in the US? ›

Florida is the largest cane-producing region in the United States. Most of the sugarcane is produced in organic soils along the southern and southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida, where the growing season is long and winters are generally warm.

Who owns sugar in America? ›

In the mid-1980s, employees became the largest shareholders in the company through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Today, the company is owned primarily by its employees and charitable foundations set up by Charles Stewart Mott—The C. S.

Is there a demand for sugar? ›

Global sugar consumption was over 183 million tonnes in 2020/211. Consumption is driven by long-term growth of around 2% annually which is expected to continue in the future.

What states make sugar? ›

Florida is the largest cane-producing region in the United States. Most of the sugarcane is produced in organic soils along the southern and southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee in Southern Florida, where the growing season is long and winters are generally warm.

Who are the best sugar exporters? ›

Sugar: exports of major countries 2022/2023

Brazil has the highest export volume of sugar of any country, at about 28.2 million metric tons as of 2022/2023. The second largest sugar exporter, Thailand, had significantly less export volume compared to Brazil, at about 11 million metric tons of sugar that year.

What will sugar price be in 2025? ›

The nominal world raw sugar price is projected at USD 342/t (USD 15.5 cts/lb) and at USD 425/t (USD 19.2 cts/lb) for white sugar, in 2025.

What time does sugar futures open? ›

Sugar Futures
Sugar Contract Specifications
Trading HoursTrading Pre-Open NEW YORK: 2:30 AM-2:00 PM 02:30-14:00 08:00 PM 20:00 LONDON: 7:30 AM-7:00 PM 07:30-19:00 01:00 AM 01:00 SINGAPORE: 2:30 PM-2:00 AM 14:30-02:00 8:00 AM 08:00
Source: ICE
13 more rows

Can you invest in commodities like oil and sugar via an ETF? ›

Investors can trade commodity-based futures, stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds, or they can hold physical commodities such as gold bullion. Three of the most commonly traded commodities include oil, gold, and base metals.

What is American crystal sugar ticker symbol? ›

ASCS:USOTC US.

What is number 11 sugar? ›

Description. The Sugar No. 11 contract is the world benchmark contract for raw sugar trading. The contract prices the physical delivery of raw cane sugar, free-on-board the receiver's vessel to a port within the country of origin of the sugar.

Who is the leader in sugar production? ›

Key Takeaways. The largest sugar-producing countries are Brazil, India, Thailand, China, and the United States. Sugar is a major crop for Thailand, which has now recovered from a drought and has regained its previous levels of production. Sugar can be extracted from either sugarcane or sugar beets.

What is the Harvard sugar scandal? ›

50 Years Ago, Sugar Industry Quietly Paid Scientists To Point Blame At Fat : The Two-Way Documents show that in the '60s, the sugar industry funded Harvard researchers who, examining risk factors of heart disease, dismissed concerns about sugar and doubled down on the dangers of fat.

What are the top 5 states that produce sugar? ›

Sugar cane is a grass native to Asia and grows mostly in tropical and subtropical areas. In terms of the U.S. sugar cane production by state, it is mainly concentrated in the federal states of Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii.

What sugar does Coca-Cola company use? ›

Yes, the sugar we use in Coca-Cola is sucrose which is sourced from cane sugar.

How profitable is the sugar industry? ›

Global market value of sugar manufacturing 2012-2022

In 2012, the global sugar manufacturing industry was valued at over 99 billion U.S. dollars, compared to only about 56 billion U.S. dollars in 2020. The forecast value for 2022 is about 56.87 billion U.S. dollars.

Who is the owner of sugar? ›

Vineeta Singh is an Indian entrepreneur and CEO and co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics.

Who is the father of sugar industry? ›

Norbert Rillieux (1806-1894) revolutionized sugar processing with the invention of the Multiple Effect Evaporator under Vacuum. Rillieux's great scientific achievement was his recognition that at reduced pressure the repeated use of latent heat would result in the production of better quality sugar at lower cost.

Is sugar a publicly traded company? ›

Sugar industry stocks in 2023

That's because no pure sugar-producing companies trade on major U.S. stock exchanges. Instead, a couple of companies produce sugar along with other agricultural products or as part of a diversified portfolio.

What is the stock symbol for sugar? ›

11 Sugar (YO:NMX)

Why sugar stock is falling? ›

Owing to low sugarcane yields and inability to absorb fixed costs sugar stocks are falling. Sugar stocks were already under pressure because of ban on sugar exports.

Is sugar traded as commodity? ›

Sugar is a soft commodity produced, traded and consumed all around the world. It is a sweet-flavored ingredient, used in many types of food and drinks, that can be found in pretty much every plant, but it can only be extracted – or at least economically efficiently – from sugarcane and sugar beet.

Is U.S. sugar publicly traded? ›

U.S. Sugar Corporation is a privately owned agricultural business based in Clewiston, Florida.

What is sugar listed as? ›

Sugar is called by many names

Ingredients listed on the food label that end in “ose” are forms of sugar, such as fructose, sucrose, maltose and dextrose.

Why sugar stocks are rising? ›

It is because sugar stocks are considered to be cyclical in nature. The fortunes of the sugar stocks ebb and flow with sugar prices, which in turn depend on sugar production and supply. Even with demand being stable, fluctuations in production/supply cause prices to rise and fall.

Has sugar gone up in price? ›

Using retail price index (RPI) data, the ONS has collected data showing the rise and fall of sugar prices since 1971. It shows how in February 2022, the average RPI of sugar was just 77p per kg, marking an year-on-year increase of over 31%.

Who sells the most sugar? ›

  1. Brazil. Brazil's already massive contribution to the world's sugar supply is expected to increase by one million tons in the 2022-2023 harvest year due in part to favorable weather. ...
  2. India. ...
  3. Thailand. ...
  4. China. ...
  5. The United States.

Who sells the most sugar in the world? ›

Global players
RankCompanyCountry
1.Südzucker AGGermany
2.Cosan SA Industria & ComercioBrazil
3.British Sugar PlcUK
4.Tereos Internacional SAFrance
6 more rows

Where does U.S. buy sugar? ›

Most U.S. sugar imports are raw cane sugar. The raw cane sugar TRQ is allocated to 40 countries based on patterns established during the relatively unrestricted free trade period of 1975-81. The Dominican Republic, Brazil, and the Philippines hold the largest shares--approximately 17, 14, and 13 percent, respectively.

What is sugar future? ›

Sugar futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts in which the contract buyer agrees to take delivery, from the seller, a specific quantity of sugar (eg. 112000 pounds) at a predetermined price on a future delivery date.

What is the price of sugar in the US? ›

US Sugar Futures Price is at a current level of 0.4117, up from 0.3788 last month and up from 0.3688 one year ago. This is a change of 8.68% from last month and 11.64% from one year ago.

Who dominated the sugar trade? ›

Europeans introduced sugarcane to the New World in the 1490s. Cane plantations soon spread throughout the Caribbean and South America and made immense profits for planters and merchants. By 1750, British and French plantations produced most of the world's sugar and its byproducts, molasses and rum.

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