Global sugar prices fell 20% in first five months of 2026, FAO reports

Global sugar prices declined 20% between January and May 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report. The average price of one kilogram of sugar on world markets stood at about 32.2 U.S. cents during the first five months of the year, down 20.4% from the 2025 average for the same period. FAO attributed the decline to abundant global supply. The report noted that sugar prices have been on a downward trend since the start of the 2025-2026 season and that global production is sufficient to meet demand. The organization estimated that global sugar trade volume in the 2025-2026 season will reach 64.1 million tonnes, a 0.6% increase from the previous season. The forecast is based on the expectation that higher exports, led by Thailand, will offset a potential drop in supply from the European Union, FAO said.