Sugar production worldwide 2010/11-2024/25

This statistic illustrates the total sugar production worldwide from 2010/2011 to 2023/2024, with a forecast for 2024/2025. In 2023/2024, approximately 183.5 million metric tons of sugar were produced in total worldwide. 

Sugar - history and facts

Sugar, used as a sweetener in food and beverages, is a sweet crystalline substance acquired from various plants, such as sugar cane and sugar beet. It is said that sugar had first been used in the Polynesian Islands more than five thousand years ago. Early Polynesians discovered that sugar cane held a sweet-tasting liquid and could be used in preparing food. Sugar cane then became widespread due to trade, invasions and conquests. In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought sugar cane to the Caribbean and the crop thrived in the fertile environment.

Sugar production

In 2022/23, the world sugar production amounted to approximately 177 million metric tons. During this period, Asia was the largest sugar-producing region in the world, yielding almost 60 million metric tons of sugar. India, Thailand, and China were the region's top sugar producers.

Sugar production in Brazil has fluctuated over the past five years. In 2015/2016, the country produced approximately 34.7 million metric tons of sugar. However, this production was forecast to increased to roughly 42 million metric tons in 2023/24. In 2021, Brazil was the leading global sugar cane producer, with a production volume of 715.7 million metric tons. That year, Russia and France were the primary sugar beet producers worldwide.