A seemingly offhand comment by President Donald Trump may have caused more than political rumination; it’s now causing turmoil in commodity markets, with impacts for ETF investors.On Wednesday, Trump said Coca-Cola Co KO was considering making the move from high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to cane sugar for its U.S. drinks. Although the soft drink giant hasn’t made any announcement, the statement was sufficient to cause shares of corn refiners Archer-Daniels-Midland Co ADM and Ingredion Inc INGR to decline i ...

Replacing high-fructose corn syrup with cane sugar could come at a cost, according to industry experts. Bulk high-fructose corn syrup cost about $0.35 per pound for 2025, only rising from $0.27 in 2015, and remaining fairly close to this price in the past few years, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In comparison, the price of refined white sugar is $1.01, which is up substantially from $0.61 in 2015. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump relayed that Coca-Cola agreed to use " ...

Market Trends & Industry Dynamics - Pepsi's CEO discussed the possibility of transitioning away from corn syrup, contingent on making sugar more affordable in the US through government intervention and farming strategies [1] - The beverage industry might see a shift towards using real cane sugar, driven by consumer demand and potentially influenced by the US President's affinity for Coca-Cola products [11][12] - A potential increase in demand for sugar could arise from beverage and packaged food companies introducing products with cane sugar, impacting syrup companies [9][10] Product & Strategy - Coca-Cola's full sugar platform (Coke Red can) represents less than 5% of its total global volumes, excluding Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar [4] - A complete conversion from high fructose corn syrup to cane sugar across all Coca-Cola products is unlikely, but the launch of a cane sugar-based product is possible, similar to Mexican-style Coke [5][6] - Pepsi will adapt to consumer preferences, potentially moving towards cane sugar-based sodas if there is sufficient demand [11] Cost & Supply Chain - Sugar is more expensive in the US than in many other parts of the world, necessitating a conversation with the government to reduce costs [1] - The US imports a significant amount of cane sugar, primarily from Brazil, as domestic production is limited to parts of Louisiana and Florida [7][8] - High fructose corn syrup became prevalent in the 1980s due to its lower cost compared to sugar [9]

Shares of high fructose syrup producer Archer-Daniels-Midland plummeted on Thursday after President Donald Trump announced that he had persuaded Coca-Cola to use real cane sugar in its drinks in the U.S."I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola," the president wrote in a Truth Social post published Wednesday."This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just ...

President Trump says Coca-Cola will be updating its American ingredients list. That news coming in a truth social post from the president who is a noted fan of Diet Coke. He said, "I've been speaking to Coca-Cola about using real cane sugar and coke in the United States and they have agreed to do so. " He added, "It's just better. US Coca-Cola is made with high fructose corn syrup, at least as best as we know.It is a secret recipe. Archer Daniels Midland is one of the biggest producers of that ingredient. T ...

Core Viewpoint - President Donald Trump announced that Coca-Cola has agreed to use cane sugar in its U.S. beverages, which is seen as a positive move for the company [1]. Company Performance - Coca-Cola's stock (KO) remained stable following the announcement, trading at $69.27, up 0.14% in pre-market [2]. - The company serves approximately 600 million consumers across 31 countries and reported a 6% organic sales growth in Q1 2025, outperforming Pepsi's 1.2% increase [4]. - Coca-Cola has a long history of annual dividend increases, exceeding 60 years, with a current yield of 2.80%, which is on the low end of its historical range [5]. - Berkshire Hathaway holds about 400 million shares of Coca-Cola, earning $816 million annually in dividends [5]. Industry Reaction - The announcement led to a decline in shares of Archer Daniels Midland and Ingredion, which dropped 6.3% and 8.9% respectively in after-hours trading [6]. - The Corn Refiners Association expressed concerns that replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar could negatively impact American food manufacturing jobs and farm income, while providing no nutritional benefits [7]. - The market remains uncertain as further official updates and confirmations are awaited from all parties involved [8].