Business Lines

Sugar

Global Highlights

LDC is a global leader in raw and refined sugar origination, merchandizing and marketing, and among the largest sugar refiners and distributors in the US

Top 4

We are one of the world’s top 4 sugar merchandizers, transporting and marketing raw and white sugar to key consumer markets

Worldwide Assets

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

Bonsucro-certified

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

About Sugar

Sugar is a caloric concentrated 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 & Produce

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 & Produce

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 Singapore

Dealing in both raw and white sugar, our Sugar Platform in the region mainly originates sugar from Thailand and Australia.

We are strongly focused on growing our presence through long-term contracts in key destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, China and India.

We are also embarking on a new warehousing project in Thailand, with the capacity to store 250,000 MT of raw sugar.

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 all customers in the US 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