Since the end of 2019, agricultural analysts have been warning of a global sugar shortage and thanks to a combination of pandemic, logistics, market and labor shenanigans, it is now upon us.  Here’s a list of links to news reports and food industry analysis, as of 10FEB2021.

New medical study says sugar promotes cancer killing Gamma-Delta T-cells!

Sugar shortage results in massive growth of sugar free chocolate market!

Global organic coconut sugar market expect to be worth U.S.-$442.8-million by 2027.

Monk Fruit sugar market expects steady growth until 2026.

Pandemic to affect organic sugar markets until 2025?

Predictions for the future of the global sugar market.

Brown sugar market predictions until 2029.

Powdered sugar market predictions until 2026.

Is there demand for sugar made from Dates?

Myths about sugar health risks debunked

European Food Agency:  Decades of logistical and government policy failures of European Union’s sugar industry, and now global shortages, results in a massive taxpayer funded study to solve the EU’s sugar supply chain problem.

AUSTRALIA: Aussie farmers told to focus on sugar production, to profit off the sugar shortage in Europe!

INDIA: Sugar farmers go on strike saying they haven’t been paid for their last sugar harvest!

Shipping container shortage and skyrocketing transportation costs halt sugar exports: “India has exported around 70,000 tonne [metric tons] so far. The container shortage, however, is affecting exports. Sri Lanka consumes around 60,000 tonne of sugar from India every month. But the freight costs have gone up from $250 per container to $1,000 between January 2020 and January 2021. Afghanistan consumes 60,000 tonne of sugar from India every month and freight costs for Afghanistan have gone up from $125 per container to $550 per container. There has been a sharp increase in freight rates and shipping is pretty tight at the moment.”-Rahil Shaikh, ‎MEIR Commodities India

INDONESIA: Government tries to expand sugar production by relaxing sugar licensing regulations, it fails due to lack of technologies and skyrocketing costs of operations.

KOREA: North Korea blames food shortages, including sugar, on the pandemic.

PAKISTAN: Government to attempt to import another 0.5m tonnes of sugar to overcome shortage.

PHILIPPINES:  Long term sugar shortage expected.

THAILAND: Black Sugar (the result of farmers burning sugarcane fields, not to be confused with Japanese Kuru Sato) increases due to lack of migrant farm workers caused by pandemic restrictions!

UNITED STATES: Sugar Processors Raise Prices as U.S. Faces Possible Sugar Shortage.

Florida; NASA releases images of Florida’s burning sugarcane farms (black sugar)

Georgia; Coca-Cola reports largest drop in volume production since World War Two, blames it on the pandemic!

Idaho; I live in Southeastern Idaho and since last year soda-pops made with 100% sugar (instead of 100% high fructose corn syrup, which is what the overwhelming majority of sodas are made with) have been disappearing.  In the past two weeks 100% sugar sodas have all but completely disappeared from local grocery store shelves (except for some very expensive gourmet sodas sold in individual bottles).

Amalgamated Sugar 2020 crop comes in at just over 40 tons per acre.

Idaho sugar beet growers report 29% increase in sugar beet revenues.

New York; Sugar High On Wall Street As White-Sugar Futures Climb On Container Shipping Worries.

 

Food Crisis:  SOYLENT GREEN PET FOOD? OR, ARE PEOPLE BEING PREPPED TO EAT PET FOOD?

Operation CoViD-19: COVERT OP TO CONTROL THE GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY?

U.S. Food Crisis, February 2019: “LONG HOURS, EMPLOYEE TURNOVER, EQUIPMENT FAILURES, WAGE HIKES”