Sugar Import Cost and Profit Analysis as of May 6, 2026

On May 6, 2026, the global sugar market focused on the interplay between international sugar prices and the RMB exchange rate. On that day, the ICE raw sugar futures main contract closed at 14.83 US cents per pound, with the RMB exchange rate against the US dollar at 6.8133. Based on these key figures, we conducted an in-depth estimation of sugar import costs and potential profits. Our analysis reveals that for in-quota imports, the estimated duty-paid cost of Brazilian raw sugar after processing is approximately 4041 RMB per ton. This cost presents a significant competitive advantage for domestic sugar enterprises. For out-of-quota Brazilian raw sugar imports, the estimated duty-paid processing cost is higher, at approximately 5134 RMB per ton. Further comparing these import costs with current domestic market prices, we used the Rizhao spot white sugar price as a benchmark. Calculations indicate that in-quota Brazilian sugar imports, after processing and duties, could yield an estimated profit of about 1479 RMB per ton. This suggests a considerable profit margin for in-quota sugar imports. In contrast, the profit margin for out-of-quota Brazilian sugar imports is significantly narrower, estimated at approximately 386 RMB per ton. These figures highlight the substantial impact of quota policies on sugar import costs and domestic market competitiveness.