Sugar Prices Fall Toward Two-Week Low as Strong Dollar Meets Growing 2026/27 Supply Deficit

Today Markets Analysis: October NY World Sugar No. 11 futures fell 1.21% to 17.92 cents per pound on Tuesday, reaching a 1.5-week low, while October London ICE white sugar declined 0.48% to $522.50 per tonne. A stronger US dollar triggered long liquidation, putting pressure on sugar prices after the market recently reached multi-month highs.

The short-term picture is bearish, but the medium-term outlook remains more complicated. Growing expectations of a global sugar deficit in 2026/27, declining production forecasts for major producers and worsening weather risks are providing underlying support.

Sugar Prices Retreat as Long Positions Come Under Pressure

The stronger dollar was the immediate catalyst behind Tuesday’s decline, encouraging investors to reduce bullish positions in sugar futures.

The scale of speculative positioning could make this liquidation particularly important. The latest Commitment of Traders data showed commodity funds increased their net-long NY sugar positions by 28,055 contracts during the week ending September 8, taking total net longs to 160,551, the highest level in almost three years.

With NY sugar having reached a 17-month high last Thursday, the market had accumulated substantial bullish positioning. A reversal in momentum therefore has the potential to generate additional selling if funds continue reducing exposure.

Bullish Sentiment

• 2026/27 global deficit: The International Sugar Organization forecasts a 200,000 MT global deficit, reversing from a projected 1.1 MMT surplus in 2025/26.
• StoneX deficit forecast: StoneX expects a substantially larger 1.7 MMT global deficit for 2026/27.
• Thailand production: Thai Sugar Millers expects 2026/27 output to fall 17% to 10 MMT.
• Brazil production: Recent Center-South sugar production has been significantly weaker year-on-year.
• India imports: India has authorised up to 1 MMT of raw sugar imports without taxes through October 31, highlighting domestic supply pressure.
• El Niño: Potentially hotter and drier conditions could threaten production across Brazil, India and Thailand.
• Longer-term deficit: Czarnikow forecasts a 2.9 MMT global deficit for 2027/28.

Bearish Sentiment

• Stronger US dollar: Dollar appreciation increases pressure on dollar-denominated commodities.
• Heavy speculative positioning: Funds hold their largest NY sugar net-long position in almost three years.
• Long liquidation risk: A reversal following the recent 17-month high could accelerate selling.
• 2025/26 surplus: The ISO expects a 1.1 MMT global surplus for the current season.
• Record production: Global 2025/26 sugar production is forecast at approximately 182 MMT.
• India’s longer-term outlook: USDA forecasts Indian 2026/27 production to rise 12% to 33.6 MMT.
• Global inventories: USDA expects 2026/27 ending stocks to increase 2% to 44.41 MMT.

Global Sugar Supply Is Moving Toward a Deficit

The central fundamental story is changing.

The 2025/26 season remains relatively well supplied, with the ISO forecasting record global production of around 182 MMT and a 1.1 MMT surplus.

However, expectations for 2026/27 have deteriorated sharply.

The ISO now expects production to fall around 1% to 180.1 MMT, producing a 200,000 MT deficit. StoneX’s forecast is considerably more bullish, projecting a 1.7 MMT deficit, while other analysts have also moved away from earlier surplus expectations.

This shift is important because the market is transitioning from a period of comfortable supply toward one where production disruptions could have a greater effect on prices.

Brazil, India and Thailand Remain Critical

The world’s three major sugar-producing regions are at the centre of the supply debate.

Brazil is already showing signs of production pressure, with Center-South June sugar output falling 26.3% year-on-year to 3.903 MMT.

Thailand is also facing a significant production reduction, with Thai Sugar Millers projecting 2026/27 output at only 10 MMT, down 17%.

India presents a more mixed picture. The country has allowed up to 1 MMT of raw sugar imports without taxes through October 31, despite usually being a major exporter. At the same time, USDA forecasts India’s 2026/27 production could recover to 33.6 MMT, which would partially offset production losses elsewhere.

India’s Weak Monsoon Adds Another Supply Risk

India’s monsoon is another important variable for the sugar market.

Cumulative rainfall for the June-September monsoon season was 15% below normal as of September 15, although conditions have improved substantially from the 42% deficit recorded at the end of June.

India is the world’s second-largest sugar producer, meaning prolonged rainfall shortages could affect cane development and future production.

The country’s weather outlook therefore remains important for the 2026/27 balance, particularly alongside concerns over production in Thailand and Brazil.

El Niño Could Tighten the Global Sugar Market

Weather is becoming an increasingly important bullish factor.

The US Climate Prediction Center has warned that the emerging El Niño pattern could be among the strongest in more than 75 years.

A strong El Niño can produce drier conditions in important agricultural regions, including Brazil, India and Thailand. For sugar, this raises the possibility of lower cane yields and reduced production.

If adverse weather persists into critical crop-development periods, current deficit forecasts could become even more pronounced.

The US Dollar and Speculative Positioning Are the Immediate Risks

Despite the tightening medium-term supply outlook, sugar remains vulnerable to a technical correction.

The combination of a stronger dollar and exceptionally large speculative long positions creates a clear liquidation risk.

With funds holding their largest net-long position in almost three years, even a relatively modest deterioration in price momentum could encourage traders to lock in profits.

This is particularly relevant after NY sugar reached a 17-month high only days before Tuesday’s decline.

What Traders Are Watching Next

Sugar traders will be focused on whether Tuesday’s decline develops into a broader liquidation move or remains a short-term correction within a tightening fundamental market.

Key indicators include:

• Commodity-fund positioning
• The US dollar index
• Brazilian Center-South production
• Indian monsoon conditions
• Thailand’s 2026/27 production outlook
• Global sugar production estimates
• El Niño developments
• India’s import and export policies
• Evidence of changing global sugar inventories

The market’s ability to hold above recent lows will be important for determining whether speculative selling is beginning to dominate the fundamentals.

Currency Hedger View

Sugar producers, processors and international buyers face a combination of commodity-price and foreign-exchange exposure, particularly when contracts are priced in US dollars.

For commercial participants, a stronger dollar can increase local-currency procurement costs even when the underlying sugar price is unchanged. Currency hedging can therefore help manage the additional volatility created by movements in both sugar and the US dollar.

Currency Hedger — www.currencyhedger.com

Market analysis contributed by Currency Hedger, an Octalas Group division specialising in foreign exchange, currency risk and hedging.

Today Markets View

Sugar’s latest decline is being driven primarily by positioning and currency markets rather than a fundamental collapse in the longer-term supply outlook.

The bearish case is clear in the short term: the stronger dollar, record speculative net-long exposure and the recent 17-month high create conditions for further liquidation.

However, the underlying supply picture is becoming progressively tighter. The ISO has moved from a projected surplus in 2025/26 to a deficit for 2026/27, while StoneX is forecasting an even larger shortfall. Production risks in Brazil and Thailand, India’s weak monsoon and the potential impact of El Niño add further uncertainty.

“Sugar is experiencing a short-term positioning correction while the longer-term supply picture is becoming tighter. The key question is whether fund liquidation overwhelms the emerging 2026/27 deficit story or simply creates a deeper correction before fundamentals regain control.” — Louis Roche, Analyst, Today Markets

Bottom Line

October NY sugar fell 1.21% on Tuesday to a 1.5-week low, while London white sugar declined 0.48%, as a stronger US dollar triggered long liquidation.

The bearish case is centred on heavy speculative positioning, the current-season global surplus and stronger dollar pressure.

The bullish case is supported by growing 2026/27 deficit forecasts, weaker production expectations in Brazil and Thailand, India’s below-normal monsoon and increasing El Niño risks.

For now, sugar remains caught between near-term speculative selling and a potentially much tighter global supply balance ahead.

Analysis by Louis Roche, Analyst, Today Markets

Market analysis contributed by Currency Hedger, an Octalas Group division specialising in foreign exchange, currency risk and hedging.

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