Sugar Futures Retreat
2026-05-06 11:30
By
Luisa Carvalho
1 min. read
Sugar futures in the US fell toward 14.5 US cents, easing from recent one-month highs of 15.5 US cents, partly influenced by movements in oil prices.
Optimism over a potential US–Iran deal pushed crude oil prices lower, reducing incentives for mills to divert sugarcane into ethanol production and potentially increasing sugar supply.
At the same time, the prospect of ample supplies weighed on prices.
The USDA said India’s total sugar production in the 2026–27 season, starting in October, is expected to rise 12% to around 33.6 million tonnes from 30 million tonnes this year, driven by higher cane output driven by favourable crop conditions and improved recovery.
Meanwhile, the global outlook is turning weaker.
Consulting firm Green Pool Commodity Specialists recently revised its estimate of the global sugar deficit for the 2026/27 crop year, increasing it from 1.66 million to 4.30 million tons, reflecting the expectation of increased ethanol production amid still elevated oil prices.