Dollar Weakness Boosts Sugar Prices

Market Overview - Sugar prices showed a recovery on Tuesday, with NY world sugar 11 closing up by 1.73% and December London ICE white sugar 5 up by 1.53% [1] - The initial decline in sugar prices was attributed to a weaker dollar and short covering in sugar futures, with NY sugar hitting a 3-week low and London sugar reaching a 4.25-year low [2] Supply and Production Insights - The global sugar supply outlook remains robust, contributing to downward pressure on prices, with BMI Group projecting a global sugar surplus of 10.5 million metric tons (MMT) for 2025/26 and Covrig Analytics estimating a surplus of 4.1 MMT for 2025/25 [2] - Brazil's sugar output has increased significantly, with a reported 15.7% year-on-year rise in the first half of September, totaling 3.622 million tons [3] - The percentage of sugarcane crushed for sugar in Brazil's mills rose to 53.49% in late August, up from 47.74% the previous year, although cumulative sugar output for 2025-26 through mid-September fell slightly by 0.1% year-on-year to 30.388 MMT [3] Regional Production Forecasts - India's sugar production is expected to rebound significantly, with a projected 19% year-on-year increase to 34.9 MMT for 2025/26, following a decline to a 5-year low of 26.2 MMT in 2024/25 [4] - The Indian Meteorological Department reported cumulative monsoon rainfall of 937.2 mm, which is 8% above normal, indicating favorable conditions for a bumper sugar crop [4] Export Dynamics - India's potential to divert 4 MMT of sugar for ethanol production in 2025/26 may not sufficiently alleviate the sugar surplus, leading to increased export expectations of up to 4 MMT, surpassing earlier estimates of 2 MMT [5]