Moroccan Imports of Brazilian Sugar Soar by 138% in July
Morocco Boosts Sugar Imports Amidst Declining Brazilian Exports
Moroccan imports of Brazilian raw sugar saw a significant increase in July, even as Brazil’s overall exports of the product experienced a marked decline. This trend has positioned Morocco among the leading destinations for Brazilian sugar in the international market.
According to data from the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the value of raw cane sugar exports to Morocco rose by 138.3% year-on-year in July, reaching approximately $91.6 million.
With this impressive performance, Morocco has emerged as the second-largest market globally for Brazilian raw sugar during the month, accounting for 10.8% of total revenues generated by Brazil’s exports of this product, second only to China.
Morocco Surpasses India
China maintained its leading position with purchases valued at approximately $198.8 million, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 10.4%.
Morocco secured the second spot, surpassing India, whose imports of Brazilian raw sugar fell by 39.1% to around $74.3 million.
Nigeria and Canada rounded out the top five, with purchases amounting to $69.3 million and $64.1 million, respectively.
The significance of Morocco’s growth is underscored by the fact that in July 2025, the value of its imports of Brazilian raw sugar was only $38.4 million. Over the course of a year, Moroccan purchases have thus surged by over $53 million.
Growth Amidst Declining Brazilian Exports
The increase in Moroccan imports comes against a challenging backdrop for Brazilian sugar exports.
In July, the overall value of Brazilian raw sugar exports plummeted from about $1.3 billion in July 2025 to $849.6 million, marking a 32.6% decline.
Export volumes also dropped by 19.2%, falling from approximately 3.1 million tons to 2.5 million tons.
The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture attributes this change to declining sales to several markets, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Algeria.
Moroccan Purchases Decline Over Seven Months
Despite the notable increase in July, Moroccan imports of Brazilian raw sugar have decreased over the first seven months of the year.
From January to July, the value of these imports fell by 9% year-on-year, totaling approximately $214.1 million.
Consequently, Morocco ranks as the eighth largest market globally for Brazilian raw sugar during this period.
Iraq slightly edged out Morocco with purchases valued at around $218 million, while Egypt followed with nearly $166 million.
Nevertheless, these figures reaffirm the importance of the Moroccan market for Brazilian sugar exporters, despite fluctuations in demand and international prices.
Prices Weigh on Brazilian Exports
On a broader scale, Brazilian raw sugar exports generated approximately $4.6 billion between January and July, down 26.4% compared to the same period the previous year.
Export volumes also shrank by 6.8%, amounting to around 13.3 million tons.
However, the decline in quantities alone does not account for the downturn in revenue. The average export price also saw a significant drop, falling from approximately $440 to $348 per ton, representing a decrease of nearly 21%.
Thus, the Brazilian sugar sector has faced a double challenge, marked by both a decrease in export volumes and a drop in international prices.
Brazilian Agricultural Exports Remain Robust
Despite the difficulties encountered by the sugar sector, Brazilian agricultural exports have largely recorded a record performance.
According to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, they reached about $103.4 billion during the first seven months of the year, an unprecedented level for this timeframe.
The data on Brazilian agricultural foreign trade encompasses 3,110 product categories aligned with the common nomenclature of Mercosur, spread across 25 agricultural sectors.
The remarkable surge in Moroccan purchases in July underscores the Kingdom’s growing significance among destinations for Brazilian sugar, in a global market characterized by volatile prices, volumes, and trade flows.
