Strength in Crude Oil Lifts Sugar Prices

Core Insights - Sugar prices are experiencing upward movement due to a rally in WTI crude oil, which has led to short covering in sugar futures [1] - Brazil's sugar production outlook is mixed, with a reported increase in output for the first half of August but a cumulative decrease for the 2025-26 season [2][5] - The International Sugar Organization forecasts a global sugar deficit for the 2025/26 season, although production is expected to rise [4] Group 1: Sugar Price Movements - October NY world sugar 11 is up by +1.34%, while October London ICE white sugar 5 is up by +0.65% [1] - A +1% increase in WTI crude oil prices is contributing to the rise in sugar prices, as higher crude prices may lead to reduced sugar supplies due to increased ethanol production [1] Group 2: Brazil's Sugar Production - Brazil's Center-South sugar output in the first half of August rose by +16% year-on-year to 3,615 million tons, with the percentage of sugarcane crushed for sugar increasing to 55.00% [2] - However, cumulative sugar output for the 2025-26 season is down -4.7% year-on-year to 22.886 million tons [2] - Conab has reduced its Brazil 2025/26 production estimate by 3.1% to 44.5 million tons, citing lower sugarcane yields due to adverse weather conditions [5] Group 3: Global Sugar Supply and Demand - The International Sugar Organization projects a global sugar deficit of -231,000 tons for the 2025/26 season, improving from a -4.88 million ton shortfall in 2024/25 [4] - Global sugar production is expected to rise by +3.3% year-on-year to 180.6 million tons, while consumption is projected to increase by +0.3% year-on-year to 180.8 million tons [4] - Czarnikow has projected a 7.5 million ton global sugar surplus for the 2025/26 season, the largest surplus in eight years [6]