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Institute of

MA Market Analysis

Project

Long-term analysis of sugar markets



Long-term analysis of sugar markets

How do sugar prices develop? Which countries are the largest sugar producers? How much sugar do we consume? What factors influence the sugar market? These and other questions are regularly analyzed by the Thuenen-Institute.

Background and Objective

The global sugar market is one of the most regulated agricultural markets. Many countries protect their sugar producers against foreign competitors by applying high import tariffs. At the same time these countries support domestic sugar production by subsidies, minimum prices and production quotas. But as all other agricultural markets the sugar market is being increasingly liberalized. The number of trade agreements which guarantee free market access between trading partners is increasing continuously and more and more countries reduce their domestic support policies. One example is the European Union which has recently abolished its production quota system. With the reduction of policy support measures market forces become more important. Simultaneously, sugar consumption is being increasingly discussed in the public. In the last years, scientists and politicians are intensively discussing measures to reduce sugar intake. Worldwide many countries  have already introduced taxes on heavily sugary products. 

Against this background the aim of the project is to build up a comprehensive database and to develop a basic understanding of the fundamental market interrelationships and long-term trends on the sugar market. Based on this information, we generate long-term market projections and assess the impact of policy measures. 

Target Group

Scientists, policymakers, producer and consumer organizations, business representatives, journalists.

Approach

Our analysis is based on a continuous monitoring of the sugar market. We collect long-term data series of the development of sugar prices and quantities as well as other dimensions, such as tariff rates. The results of our analysis are published in scientific journals, working papers and in specialized press. Moreover, results are presented at conferences and seminars and discussed with representatives from science, business and politics.

Data and Methods

For our analysis we use international and national statistics as well as market reports. Data from different sources are collected and merged into one data pool. This data pool is analyzed by descriptive statistics. Moreover, we use the collected data to build up and maintain the databases of our market models.

Our Research Questions

We answer various research questions as for example:

  • How do prices and quantities of sugar develop?
  • What are long-term trends on the sugar market and what factors influence these trends?
  • How do changes in policy, as for example the end of the EU sugar quota system, influence prices and quantities on the sugar market?

Preliminary Results

Every year, the Thuenen-Institute publishes an overview article on the current situation of the global and EU sugar market (Haß 2018).. The paper contains for example TOP-10-lists of the largest sugar producers, consumers, exporters and importers as well as figures showing the development of EU and world markets prices. Moreover, the Thuenen-Institute publishes every two years a long-term projection of the development of the German agricultural market (Thuenen-Baseline) and the institute is also involved in the generation of agricultural market projections published every year by the European Commission. Furthermore, the economic consequences of the abolition of the EU production quota system for sugar and isoglucose have been analyzed in a project.

Links and Downloads

Within the framework of a project the Thuenen-Institute has analyzed the economic consequences of the abolition of the EU sugar quota system:

You can find up-to-date information about the sugar market under the following links:

Further statistical information:

Germany:

European Union:

World:

Besides the sugar market following markets are monitored and analyzed by the Thuenen-Institute:

Duration

Permanent task 6.2017

Publications

  1. 0

    Haß M (2023) Der Markt für Zucker 2022. German J Agric Econ 72(Suppl.):1-17, DOI:10.30430/72.2023.5.Zucker

  2. 1

    Haß M (2023) Quantitative analyses on the effects of the EU sugar market policy [online]. Göttingen: Univ Göttingen, X, 156 p, Göttingen, Univ, Fakultät für Agrarwissenschaften, Diss, 2022, zu finden in <https://ediss.uni-goettingen.de/handle/11858/14677> [zitiert am 31.05.2023], DOI:10.53846/goediss-9870

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn066385.pdf

  3. 2

    Haß M (2022) Coupled support for sugar beet in the European Union: Does it lead to market distortions? J Agric Econ 73(1):86-111, DOI:10.1111/1477-9552.12435

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn063605.pdf

  4. 3

    Haß M (2022) Liberalising the EU sugar market: what are the effects on third countries? Austr J Agri Res Econ 66(3):638-667, DOI:10.1111/1467-8489.12475

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn064924.pdf

  5. 4

    Haß M (2020) Der Markt für Zucker [online]. German J Agric Econ 69(Suppl.):32-66, zu finden in <https://www.gjae-online.de/de/articles/der-markt-fur-zucker-14/> [zitiert am 06.04.2020], DOI:10.30430/69.2020.5.32-66

  6. 5

    Haß M (2019) Der Markt für Zucker [online]. German J Agric Econ 68(Suppl.):31-61, zu finden in <http://www.gjae-online.de/inhaltsverzeichnisse/pages/protected/show.prl?params=recent%3D1%26type%3D4&id=960&currPage=&type=4> [zitiert am 27.03.2019]

  7. 6

    Banse M, Haß M, Salamon P, Zirngibl M-E, González Martinez A, Jongeneel R, van Leeuwen M (2019) Sugar - Developments in EU Member States. In: EU agricultural outlook for markets and income, 2019-2030. Brussels: European Commission, pp 28-29

  8. 7

    Haß M (2018) Der Markt für Zucker [online]. German J Agric Econ 67(Suppl.):27-55, zu finden in <http://www.gjae-online.de/inhaltsverzeichnisse/pages/protected/show.prl?params=recent%3D1%26type%3D4&id=919&currPage=&type=4> [zitiert am 06.03.2018]

  9. 8

    Offermann F, Banse M, Freund F, Haß M, Kreins P, Laquai V, Osterburg B, Pelikan J, Rösemann C, Salamon P (2018) Thünen-Baseline 2017 - 2027: Agrarökonomische Projektionen für Deutschland. Braunschweig: Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut, 116 p, Thünen Rep 56, DOI:10.3220/REP1516952942000

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn059667.pdf

  10. 9

    Haß M (2018) Zukunft für die Zuckerrübe : wie die EU-Landwirtschaft das Ende der Quotenregelung verkraftet. Zuckerrübe 67(1):12-13

  11. 10

    Haß M (2017) Der Markt für Zucker [online]. German J Agric Econ 66(Suppl.):20-43, zu finden in <http://www.gjae-online.de/inhaltsverzeichnisse/pages/protected/show.prl?params=recent%3D1%26type%3D4&id=878&currPage=&type=4> [zitiert am 03.04.2017]

  12. 11

    Haß M (2017) Der Zuckermarkt im Wandel: Was passiert nach dem EU-Quotenende? Schr Gesellsch Wirtsch Sozialwiss Landbaues 52:73-84

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn058965.pdf

  13. 12

    Wolf V, Haß M (2017) World markets for sugar and starch: status and prospects. In: Meyers RA (ed) Encyclopedia of sustainability science and technology. New York: Springer, pp 1-37, DOI:10.1007/978-1-4939-2493-6_997-1

  14. 13

    Haß M (2016) Der Zuckermarkt im Wandel: Was passiert nach dem EU-Quotenende? Agra Europe (Bonn) 57(39):D10-15

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