Canadian Sugar Industry Statistics

Refined Sugar Production

Cane sugar

Over 90% of Canada’s refined sugar (sucrose) is produced from raw cane sugar, imported from tropical regions, principally from South and Central America. Before it comes to Canada, sugar cane is partially refined into raw sugar at mills operated near the sugar cane fields. Bulk raw sugar is transported to Canadian ports in ocean-going cargo vessels which carry from 20,000 - 40,000 tonnes at a time. This “raw sugar” consists of brown, coarse granulated sugar crystals with many impurities making it unfit for human consumption. The sugar refining process is a capital intensive, technologically sophisticated process that separates the pure sucrose crystals from molasses, plant residue and other impurities.

To meet the Canadian food standard for sugar (at least 99.8% pure sucrose), refining is essential to remove impurities from raw cane sugar. 

Canada - Raw Sugar Imports for Refining
  2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
South America 1,027,180 472,780 1,007,445 1,158,700 1,040,766
Central America 214,587 520,880 290,726 112,898 198,101
Mexico 77 245,539 2,173 40,824 28,246
Other 5,128 6,112 5,770 5,474 6,383
Total 1,246,972 1,245,311 1,306,114 1,317,896 1,273,496

Source: Statistics Canada International Trade Division

Beet Sugar

Refined sugar is also produced from sugar beets grown in Alberta. The sugar beets are harvested in the fall then processed to extract sugar and separate it from the fibre, water and other non-sugar materials. Major by-products of the beet sugar industry include beet pulp, which is used to produce a highly nutritious cattle feed, and molasses. Whether produced from sugar cane or sugar beets, the result is the same, pure sugar (at least 99.8% sucrose). 

Canada Beet Sugar Production
  2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22
Sugar Beet Harvested Acreage 26,940 28,407 28,491 30,092 28,097
Sugar Beet Production (tonnes) 876,929 848,525 465,017 903,753 877,410
Refined Sugar Production (tonnes) 127,305 128,867 65,971 118,967 121,360

Note: 45% of the 2019 crop remained unharvested due to extreme October weather events
Source: Lantic Inc (Rogers Sugar) and Alberta Sugar Beet Growers

Shipment and Product Types

Domestic and Export Shipments

The Canadian sugar industry produces and distributes approximately 1.4 million tonnes of refined sugar annually in four provinces. Refined sugar is produced from imported raw cane sugar and Canadian sugar beets. While Canadian companies have actively pursued export markets, export sales have been restricted by foreign trade barriers.

Canadian Sugar Shipments 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Domestic 1,225,753 1,260,131 1,273,333 1,292,303 1,316,465
Exports 57,547 50,775 76,686 74,648 67,178
Total Shipments (Tonnes) 1,283,300 1,310,906 1,350,019 1,366,951 1,383,644
% Change   2.15% 2.98% 1.25% 1.22%

Source: Statistics Canada and KPMG

Retail and Industrial Shipments

Refined sugar is produced for both industrial (food manufacturers and food service outlets) and retail customers (packaged sugar for direct consumer use). More than 85% of sugar production is industrial.

Canadian Sugar Shipments: Retail and Industrial Share of Domestic Shipments
Industrial Retail  
2001 0.8483 0.1517
2002 0.8536 0.1464
2003 0.8641 0.1359
2004 0.8750 0.1250
2005 0.8760 0.1240
2006 0.8778 0.1222
2007 0.8665 0.1335
2008 0.8793 0.1207
2009 0.8682 0.1318
2010 0.8711 0.1289
2011 0.8733 0.1267
2012 0.8621 0.1379
2013 0.8672 0.1328
2014 0.8662 0.1338
2015 0.8587 0.1413
2016 0.8662 0.1338
2017 0.8650 0.1350
2018 0.87 0.13
2019 0.8754 0.1246
2020 0.8544 0.1456
2021 0.8844 0.1156
2022 0.8827 0.1173

*Source: KPMG 

Product Types

Granulated sugar is the most common form of sugar sold in Canada to both retail and industrial customers. Liquid sugar and liquid invert sugar are also used principally in the beverage and confectionery sectors. Specialty sugars such as brown or yellow sugar and icing sugar are also produced to meet varying consumer and industrial needs.

Canadian Sugar Shipments by Product Class (2022)
White Granulated 980,469
Liquid 50,027
Yellow/Brown 41,045
Icing 321,103

Source: KPMG

Sugar Consumption (Disappearance)

Statistics Canada publishes data on "food available for consumption" (i.e., disappearance or availability), including data for sugars and syrups made from sugar cane or sugar beets. These data reflect the total amount entering the market, regardless of final use. This data also accounts for Canada-US trade in sugar containing products, recognizing the significant trade surplus in sugar exported in food products.

Sugar disappearance data provides a basis for examining food consumption changes over time (trends). It is not a measure of actual sugar consumption because it does not account for losses at the retail level, in households, restaurants or institutions during storage and preparation, or for unconsumed food. 

Statistics Canada data for refined sugar indicates that per capita availability decreased over the last 25 years (1997-2021) from 36 kg to 29 kg per person per year. Actual consumption, using the Statistics Canada/USDA 41% waste adjustment factor1, is estimated to have declined from 21.2 kg to 16.8 kg per person per year (a decline from 58 g to 46 g per person per day). 

1Hall KD, Guo J, Dore M, Chow CC. The progressive increase of food waste in America and its environmental impact. PLoS One 2009, 4, e7940.; USDA, ERS, Food Availability: Loss-Adjusted Food. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-availability-per-capita-data-system/loss-adjusted-food-availability-documentation/

Sugar Disappearance, Canada (kg per capita) kg per person
1997 36.1
1998 33.2
1999 33.8
2000 34.6
2001 34.4
2002 34.4
2003 32.6
2004 34.1
2005 32.6
2006 30.6
2007 30.3
2008 31.2
2009 31.8
2010 29.9
2011 30.4
2012 29.1
2013 30.6
2014 30.3
2015 29.5
2016 29.5
2017 30.0
2018 30.0
2019 30.1
2020 30.7
2021 29.3
2022 30.6

SOURCE: Statistics Canada
 

NOTES:

  • Domestic supply is equal to production, imports and beginning stocks, less exports and ending stocks.
  • Statistics Canada data takes into account imports and exports of sugar in sugar containing products.
  • Sugar disappearance is not equal to actual sugar consumption.