ICUMSA 45 sugar is at the center of the international sugar trade owing to its very high purity, maximum sucrose content of 99.8%, and bright white color. This special type of sugar finds several applications in food processing, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries which is why it is very high in demand, particularly in regions with limited local production.
The founder of Geohoney and the CEO of B A Barry Group, Mr. Basem Barry says
“ICUMSA 45 sugar features very fine grains with low moisture and ash contents. These features of the icumsa 45 sugar give it a smooth white texture with a much longer shelf life thus enhancing its industry and culinary importance.”
This blog covers the global import trends of the ICUMSA 45 sugar as of 2025 highlighting 5 leading importers of this valuable commodity. So, without any further ado, let’s look at the countries that import a significant portion of this sugar from major export partners.
A Brief Look at ICUMSA 45 Sugar
Top 5 Countries That Import ICUMSA 45 Sugar
USA
Chile
Peru
Ghana
Kenya
The ICUMSA 45 sugar is a pure, sparkling white sugar that features fine granules and gives out a consistent sucrose taste. This rigorously processed sugar contains very few contaminants and bacteria which makes it perfect for household and industry applications.
The term ICUMSA stands for International Commission for Uniform Methods for Sugar Analysis. This is a regulatory body that sets and monitors global sugar quality control standards.
The ICUMSA test is used to determine the quality of the refined sugar. If the test gives you the standard value of 45, it shows the sugar is highly refined. If the ICUMSA test leads to a value closer to 45, the sugar is whiter, clearer, and purer. It also shows the sugar contains minimum impurities or artificial coloration.
Compared to Icumsa 45 sugar, regular brown organic sugars with an ICUMSA rating of 1000 to 1200 are darker and less refined which limits their culinary uses.
Following are some key features of the ICUMSA 45 sugar
This sugar has fine grains and a sparkling white color.
Its ash content is about 0.04% which means there are virtually zero non-sugar components in its composition.
This sugar has a moisture content of 0.04% which gives it a much longer shelf life.
It has a 99.8% sucrose content which gives this sugar a uniform flavor profile that is ideal for both domestic and industrial food preparation.
Following are the top 5 countries importing ICUMSA sugar in 2025
The biggest ICUMSA 45 sugar importer currently is the United States which accounts for up to 63% of the global import trade of this commodity. With an estimated 7,710 shipments so far, this country takes the lead as the biggest importer of all.
What drives this high demand for the ICUMSA 45 sugar in the USA is the country’s massive food processing, beverages, and confectionary industry and limited crop rotation potential in certain parts of the region due to climate change.
The USA primarily imports this sugar from countries like India, Brazil and Thailand to meet its high demand.
In second place is Chile which imports about 1,296 shipments of the ICUMSA 45 sugar from major export partners like Guatemala, Brazil, and Colombia. This country accounts for about 11% of the global sugar market trade making it another key player.
Chile’s geography, economic conditions, and huge food manufacturing sector make the import of ICUMSA 45 sugar the most favorable choice. This region uses this sugar to produce export-grade packaged foods, bakery products, and dairy items which is what drives the very high demand.
Peru captures about 8% of the ICUMSA 45 sugar import volume with 1,033 shipments every year. This country has some sugar plantations but they mainly cater to raw sugars and ethanol manufacturing.
Peru imports highly-refined ICUMSA 45 sugar to meet the domestic needs of its growing population. The country is also a major producer and exporter of pharmaceuticals and processed foods that use this sugar.
The key suppliers of the ICUMSA 45 sugar in Peru are Brazil, Argentina, and India.
Ghana also recorded about 619 shipments of this sugar making up about 5% of the global import market. Ghana has a strategically important port structure and a booming food processing industry.
This country imports ICUMSA 45 sugar to meet its increasing household consumption and industrial food processing needs.
Though the government is working to support local sugar refining industries, there is still time until we can expect to see significant results. Till then, the sugar imports from major countries like India, Malaysia, and Brazil remain critical for Ghana.
Kenya is another rapidly growing importer of the ICUMSA 45 sugar with an estimated 619 shipments and about 5% of the global import share as of 2025. Domestic sugar production in this African country is limited by inconsistent crop yields and inefficient infrastructure.
To satisfy industrial and retail sugar demands, this country imports this sugar from suppliers like India, Pakistan, and Brazil. Kenya’s table sugar, beverages, and confectionary industries heavily rely on this sugar.
ICUMSA 45 sugar import has grown exponentially, especially in countries that are densely populated and have several developing food processing industries that need this commodity in large volumes.
Both developed and emerging economies like the USA, Ghana, Chile, Peru, and Kenya are the leading players when it comes to the import of this sugar. However, there are several factors that can make the whole import process a bit complex and challenging.
To cope with that, you need to extensively research your suppliers to ensure the product you get is pure and certified by the relevant regulatory bodies.
You can visit us at B A Barry Group to get the highest quality ICUMSA 45 sugar sourced from leading Brazilian suppliers that guarantee exceptional purity along with very competitive pricing.