Cane & Beet Sugar —
ICUMSA 45 to Raw
Refined white sugar, raw cane sugar, speciality grades and sugarbeet molasses — sourced from Brazil, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. Bulk and bagged supply under formal Sale and Purchase Agreements with independent inspection at every load port. From food-grade ICUMSA 45 to industrial raw grades and fermentation feedstocks.
Key Supply Parameters
- Primary Grade ICUMSA 45 (Refined White)
- Additional Grades ICUMSA 100 · 150 · 600–1200 · VHP
- By-Products Sugarbeet Molasses · Cane Molasses
- Origins Brazil · Russia · Ukraine · Turkey
- Min. Order 1,000 MT per shipment
- Delivery Terms FOB · CFR · CIF · DAP · DDP
- Packaging Bulk · 50 kg PP · 25 kg · FIBC
- Inspection SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek
- Payment Wire Transfer · D/P · Escrow
The full ICUMSA scale — every commercial grade
ICUMSA (International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis) is the global standard for measuring sugar colour and purity. Lower ICUMSA values indicate higher refinement and whiter colour.
The benchmark international trading grade. Crystal white, virtually colourless sugar with maximum purity (≥99.8% sucrose). Produced by refining raw cane sugar through carbonation, filtration and crystallisation. The standard specification for food manufacturing, beverage production, confectionery and retail bagging. Accepted by all global food safety frameworks (Codex Alimentarius, EU Directive 2001/111/EC, FDA).
Slightly off-white to white crystal sugar with minimal colour. Used in industrial food production where ICUMSA 45 is not required but high purity is still essential — dairy products, bread manufacturing, sauces, jams and preserves. Typically beet sugar origin (Ukraine, Russia) or secondary cane refineries. Price advantage over ICUMSA 45 with comparable functional performance in most processing applications.
Standard European beet white sugar. Produced directly from sugarbeet without a raw stage — the beet juice is purified, evaporated and crystallised. Cream-white colour, high sucrose content (≥99.7%). The dominant sugar type in European domestic markets and used extensively in Eastern European food processing industries. Supplied in bulk vessel or 50 kg polypropylene bags.
Light amber partially refined cane sugar. Contains residual molasses giving a mild flavour character. Used as a feedstock for further refining, fermentation feedstock for ethanol and industrial alcohol production, and animal feed supplement. Also traded for direct consumption in markets with taste preference for less refined sugar. Lower production cost and higher yield per tonne of cane than white grades.
VHP (Very High Polarisation) raw sugar is the dominant bulk commodity traded on the ICE No.11 and London No.5 futures exchanges. Brown-yellow colour with characteristic molasses aroma. Polarisation ≥99.2° Pol distinguishes it from standard raw grades. The global feedstock for white sugar refining. Brazil is the world's largest exporter of VHP raw sugar; Atabaş Group sources VHP from established Brazilian sugar producers for refinery-destined bulk programs.
Demerara is a coarse-grained partially refined cane sugar with golden-amber colour and a light toffee character from retained natural molasses. Golden granulated sugar is a slightly refined version of raw cane with a finer grain. Both are consumed directly in premium food service, bakery and specialty retail, and are particularly demanded in European and Middle Eastern specialty markets. Not interchangeable with industrial raw grades.
Turbinado (also marketed as "raw cane sugar" in retail) is produced by washing raw cane crystals with steam to remove surface molasses while retaining the golden colour. Sucrose content typically 96–99%. Used in specialty coffee, premium food service and natural food retail segments. Large, golden crystals with a mild molasses flavour. Higher price point than standard raw grades.
Muscovado (also known as Barbados sugar or moist dark sugar) is an unrefined or minimally refined cane sugar with full molasses content retained. Dark brown to very dark colour, strong molasses flavour, moist texture. Sucrose 88–95%. Used in dark chocolates, spice cakes, barbecue sauces, rum production and specialty baking. High flavour intensity makes it a non-substitutable ingredient in premium food manufacturing.
Sugarbeet molasses is the thick, dark syrup remaining after maximum sucrose extraction from beet juice. Sucrose content 45–52%, total sugar (as invert) 60–65% dry basis. Primary uses: yeast fermentation substrate (bakery yeast, fuel ethanol, industrial alcohol), cattle and sheep feed supplement (high energy, palatability enhancer), and fermentation feedstock for glutamate, lysine and citric acid production. Atabaş Group sources beet molasses from established beet processing facilities in Ukraine and Russia for industrial buyers, feed manufacturers and fermentation industries.
Four country programs — cane and beet
Atabaş Group maintains active sugar supply programs from four major producing countries, covering both cane and beet origins and the full ICUMSA grade range.
The world's largest sugar producer and exporter, accounting for approximately 25% of global sugar exports. Brazilian cane sugar is the global benchmark — ICUMSA 45 refined white and VHP raw (ICE No.11) are produced at large-scale industrial mills in São Paulo state (Ribeirão Preto / Triângulo Mineiro regions). Brazil supplies the full grade range from ICUMSA 45 through VHP, Demerara and turbinado. Atabaş Group sources from established Brazilian producers for bulk vessel programs with load ports at Santos, Paranaguá and Maceió.
Ukraine is one of Europe's largest sugarbeet producers, with processing concentrated in Vinnytsia, Ternopil and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. Primary product is white beet sugar ICUMSA 150 grade. Ukraine also produces significant volumes of sugarbeet molasses as a by-product, supplied to regional yeast manufacturers, ethanol plants and animal feed compounders. Atabaş Group sources Ukrainian beet white sugar and beet molasses through established trading channels, with load ports at Odessa and Yuzhne (Chornomorsk).
Russia has significantly expanded domestic sugarbeet production since 2014, reducing import dependency and creating export surplus capacity particularly in white beet sugar ICUMSA 100–150. Russian sugar production is concentrated in Krasnodar Krai, Voronezh and Belgorod regions. Sugarbeet molasses from Russian processing facilities is a significant by-product available for industrial fermentation and feed programs. Atabaş Group sources Russian beet sugar and molasses for applicable market destinations.
Turkey operates one of Europe's largest domestic sugar beet processing industries, with state-controlled sugar factories (Türkşeker) across Anatolia supplying white beet sugar to domestic and regional markets. Istanbul also functions as a regional re-export and re-processing hub for refined cane sugar (ICUMSA 45) destined for MENA markets. Atabaş Group's Istanbul base provides direct access to Turkish sugar origin supply and re-export logistics via Mersin, İskenderun and İzmir ports.
Grade comparison — key parameters
All Atabaş Group sugar supply is accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis from SGS, Bureau Veritas or equivalent, issued per cargo at the load port.
| Grade | ICUMSA (RBU) | Sucrose % | Moisture % | Ash % | Colour | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refined White (Cane) | ≤45 | ≥99.8 | ≤0.04 | ≤0.04 | Crystal white | Food, beverage, retail |
| White Beet Sugar | 100–150 | ≥99.7 | ≤0.06 | ≤0.05 | Cream-white | Industrial food processing |
| Special Extra White | ≤100 | ≥99.8 | ≤0.04 | ≤0.04 | White | Pharma, premium food |
| Light Raw (Cane) | 600–800 | ≥98.0 | ≤0.15 | ≤0.25 | Light amber | Refinery feedstock, fermentation |
| VHP Raw (Cane) | 800–1200 | Pol ≥99.2° | ≤0.15 | ≤0.30 | Golden-brown | Global refinery feedstock |
| Demerara | ~600 | 96–98 | ≤1.5 | ≤0.5 | Golden amber | Specialty food, beverage |
| Muscovado | High | 88–95 | ≤5.0 | ≤1.5 | Dark brown | Specialty baking, rum, chocolate |
| Sugarbeet Molasses | N/A | 45–52 (sucrose) | ~20 | ~8–10 | Dark brown-black | Fermentation, animal feed |
| Trade Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum Order | 1,000 MT per shipment (spot) · 500 MT for bagged grades · term contracts from 3 months |
| Packaging | Bulk (vessel hold) · 50 kg polypropylene bag · 25 kg bag · 1,000 kg FIBC jumbo bag · Molasses: bulk tanker / IBC |
| Delivery Terms | FOB · CFR · CIF · DAP · DDP — Incoterms 2020 |
| Load Ports | Santos / Paranaguá / Maceió (Brazil) · Odessa / Chornomorsk (Ukraine) · Novorossiysk (Russia) · Mersin / İskenderun / İzmir (Turkey) |
| Inspection | SGS / Bureau Veritas / Intertek — mandatory at load port on every cargo |
| Documents | Bill of Lading · Certificate of Origin · Phytosanitary Certificate · Weight Certificate · Certificate of Analysis · SGS Inspection Report |
| Payment | Staged wire transfer · D/P · Escrow — documented in written SPA |
Structured supply for institutional sugar buyers
ICUMSA 45 refined white to VHP raw, Demerara, Muscovado, beet white and beet molasses — all under a single commercial framework. No need to manage separate supplier relationships per grade or origin.
Active programs from Brazil (cane: ICUMSA 45 / VHP), Ukraine (beet white, molasses), Russia (beet white, molasses) and Turkey (beet white / cane re-export). Origin diversification reduces counterparty and logistics concentration risk.
Independent third-party inspection at load port is non-negotiable. CoA, weight certificate and inspection report issued per cargo — not by reference to a standing specification. Cargo-level quality assurance, not factory-level.
All transactions executed under a written Sale and Purchase Agreement specifying grade, ICUMSA value, polarisation, moisture, packaging, delivery terms, inspection protocol and payment — before any cargo commitment is made.
Three consecutive clean IFRS audit opinions. ISO 9001, 14001, 37001 and 45001 certified. UN Global Compact signatory. LEI registered (984500DB9C2D71FF8846). Institutional due diligence requirements satisfied in all major markets.
Since 1981, one principle: no matter what, keep your word. In a commodity market defined by quality disputes and delivery failures, consistent execution on commitments is the only sustainable competitive advantage.
Common questions from sugar buyers
What does ICUMSA mean and how does the scale work?
ICUMSA stands for the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis. The ICUMSA value measures the colour of a sugar solution in Attenuation Units (RBU) — the lower the value, the whiter and purer the sugar. ICUMSA 45 is the global benchmark for refined white sugar (crystal white, ≤45 RBU). ICUMSA 150 is standard European white beet sugar. ICUMSA 600–800 is light raw cane. ICUMSA 1200 is dark raw. The scale is logarithmic — a sugar with ICUMSA 1200 is not just slightly darker than ICUMSA 45; it is a fundamentally different product at a different processing stage.
What is the difference between cane sugar and beet sugar?
Chemically, both cane and beet white sugar are sucrose (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) and are analytically identical at ICUMSA 45 or 150 refined grade — they cannot be distinguished by taste or composition at the consumer level. The difference lies in origin, production process and by-products. Sugarcane is a tropical grass grown in Brazil, India and Southeast Asia; beet is a root crop grown in temperate climates (EU, Ukraine, Russia). Beet sugar is produced directly from beet juice without a raw sugar intermediate. Cane processing creates raw sugar first, which is then shipped to a refinery. Beet molasses differs significantly from cane molasses in composition and flavour — beet molasses is used primarily in fermentation and feed; cane molasses has broader food and rum applications.
What is sugarbeet molasses used for?
Sugarbeet molasses is the thick, dark syrup remaining after the crystallisation of sucrose from beet juice has reached its technical limit. It contains 45–52% sucrose and 60–65% total sugars (dry basis) that cannot be crystallised further due to the presence of impurities (betaine, amino acids, inorganic salts). Primary industrial applications: (1) Yeast fermentation — pressed baker's yeast and dried yeast for the bread industry; (2) Fuel ethanol and industrial alcohol production; (3) Animal feed — high-energy palatability enhancer for cattle and sheep rations; (4) Fermentation feedstock for amino acids (glutamate, lysine) and citric acid. Atabaş Group supplies beet molasses from Ukraine and Russia to industrial buyers in bulk tanker or IBC format.
What is VHP raw sugar and how is it priced?
VHP (Very High Polarisation) raw sugar is the dominant traded commodity on the ICE Sugar No.11 futures exchange (the global benchmark for raw cane sugar). "Very High Polarisation" means the sucrose content is ≥99.2° Pol, which distinguishes it from lower-grade raw sugars. VHP is produced at cane mills in Brazil, primarily for export to refineries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa, where it is processed into refined white sugar. The ICE No.11 front-month price serves as the pricing reference for most VHP raw sugar physical transactions globally. Atabaş Group sources VHP from Brazilian producers for refinery-destined bulk programs.
What documentation does Atabaş Group provide for sugar shipments?
Standard documentation package for every sugar cargo: Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin (endorsed by chamber of commerce), Phytosanitary Certificate (for food-grade grades), SGS / Bureau Veritas weight and quality certificate, Certificate of Analysis (sucrose, ICUMSA, moisture, ash, polarisation), commercial invoice and packing list. For EU-destination cargoes, additional documents (EUR.1, preferential origin certificates) are available depending on origin. All documentation is coordinated with the buyer's requirements and specified in the Sale and Purchase Agreement.
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ICUMSA 45 · White Beet · VHP Raw · Demerara · Muscovado · Sugarbeet Molasses · Brazil · Ukraine · Russia · Turkey
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