The world will only produce only as much sugar as it requires over the year ahead. A combination of lower yields from top-producing countries such as Brazil and increased global demand will result in near-equilibrium for supply and demand at just over 180million tonnes each.
This ought to "bode well" for prices, said Jose Orive, executive director of the International Sugar Organisation, in a speech at the International Sweetener Symposium in August, though it was noted that four years of surplus meant that global stocks would continue to exceed actual consumption by more than 40% for another year.
