Business Lines

Sugar

Global Highlights

LDC is a global leader in raw and refined sugar origination, merchandizing and marketing

Top 5

We are one of the world’s top 5 sugar merchandizers, transporting and marketing raw and white sugar to key consumer markets

International

Our facilities include 3 processing assets in China and the US, and a storage site in Russia

Global

We supply customers in the EU, US and Canada with Bonsucro-certified sugar

About Sugar

Sugar is a commodity produced from sugarcane or sugar beets. Sugarcane grows best in tropical areas, as it demands large quantities of sunshine and water, whereas sugar beet is produced in temperate zones.

South America and Asia dominate sugar exports. Brazil is by far the largest potential producer and exporter, but might choose to maximize ethanol production in a low sugar price environment, making global supply highly flexible.

The largest importers are China, Indonesia, the Middle East, the Black Sea region and Africa.

As both large producers and consumers, India and the EU swing from net exporters to net importers, depending on local production conditions, and have a significant influence on the world market.

Our Sugar Value Chain

Each of our business lines is integrating further across the five steps of our value chain, as we respond to the need for a traceable and responsible supply line from farmer to consumer

01Originate

We share our expertise with farmers and producers worldwide, ourselves or with business partners and expert organizations, as part of our commitment to responsible, sustainable and traceable supply chains

02Process & Refine

Once bought or harvested, we bring crops to our assets for the next stage in their journey. These are ethically and sustainably processed and refined, coming one step closer to the consumer.

03Store & Transport

Our strategically located network of silos, warehouses, transloading facilities and ports allows us facilitate access to market for local farmers around the globe and enable us to control costs and mitigate risk throughout the product journey

04Research & Merchandize

Our depth of marketing and merchandizing experience is our greatest strength. All our platforms and regions rely on our market knowledge to ensure responsive supply.

05Customize & Distribute

We supply products to a wide range of customers, from large multinationals to local manufacturers and retailers

01Originate

02Process & Refine

Once bought or harvested, we bring crops to our assets for the next stage in their journey. These are ethically and sustainably processed and refined, coming one step closer to the consumer.

03Store & Transport

04Research & Merchandize

Our depth of marketing and merchandizing experience is our greatest strength. All our platforms and regions rely on our market knowledge to ensure responsive supply.

05Customize & Distribute

We supply products to a wide range of customers, from large multinationals to local manufacturers and retailers

Our Strengths in Brazil

Brazil is among the world’s major sugar producers and its main sugar exporter, accounting for over 45% of free global sugar trading. The country is also the second largest producer of fuel ethanol, behind the US.

LDC has originated and marketed raw sugar, white sugar and ethanol in Brazil since the late 1980s, leveraging global expertise in key markets and strategic regions , with trading and execution teams managing the annual movement of millions of tons of products on every continent.

We operate in partnership with third parties in the bulk sugar terminals at Brazil’s ports of Paranaguá and Santos, originating raw sugar from sugarcane (VHP) and crystallized and refined sugar, ready for human consumption, to meet global demand from companies and wholesalers worldwide.

We also originate hydrous and anhydrous ethanol fuel, and hydrous and neutral ethanol, which are used mainly by the chemical and beverage industries.

LDC’s expertise in trade flow research and futures markets analyses provides supply and demand insights into both foreign and domestic markets. We share these insights with partners, as the building block for stronger relationships based on trust and mutual benefits.

Committed to Sustainability

We support Bonsucro’s efforts to increase the adoption of its standards and practices for the responsible production of sugar.

All relevant LDC facilities and trading entities are Bonsucro-certified and, since we do not grow sugar ourselves, we take steps to promote the organization to our suppliers and to merchandize Bonsucro-certified sugar wherever possible.

In 2019, we were able to supply customers in the EU, US and Canada with Bonsucro-certified sugar. In the same year, we introduced a new water-saving decolorization process at our Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth (GA), US.

Discover more about sustainability at LDC