During the last 7 years world exports of sugar averaged
35.6 million tons. The high in 1999/2000 was 10 percent
above the average and the low, (a 2001/02 forecast) is
5.5 percent below this average. The top three exporters,
Brazil, the EU, and Australia account for 50 percent of
world exports. The top five exporters, including Thailand
and South Africa account for nearly 66 percent. The two
major players are Brazil and the European Union. In
1999/2000, when world prices were low, these two
exporters accounted for 44 percent of world exports and
Australia accounted for 11 percent. Brazil, the most
volatile, has shown the ability to shift exports by 3.6
million tons between marketing seasons. The European
Union remains a major exporter despite ongoing reforms.
Annual exports between 1997/98 and 2000/01 averaged 6.1
million tons. This figure is well above the average
exported during the 1995/96 and 1996/97 period of 4.9
million tons.
