According to recently released public data from China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), China imported 122,900 tonnes of syrup and solid sugar mixtures in March 2026, spanning five product categories (see Table 1). Cumulative imports for the first quarter reached 265,300 tonnes, an increase of 72,200 tonnes compared with 193,100 tonnes in the same period of 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 37.39%. The primary driver of this increase was the product category under HS code 17029011—cane or beet sugar aqueous solutions, commonly referred to in the industry as “syrup.”
I. Import Breakdown by Product Category
Based on the detailed data released by the GACC across the five relevant product categories:
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HS 17029011 (Cane or beet sugar aqueous solutions): 100,000 tonnes imported in March, with Q1 cumulative imports totaling 224,100 tonnes—a substantial increase from 63,800 tonnes in Q1 2025. This category was the principal driver behind the current rebound in imports.
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HS 21069062 (Simple solid mixtures with sucrose content exceeding 50%): 14,600 tonnes imported in March, with Q1 cumulative imports of 29,200 tonnes, down 47.67% year-on-year from 55,800 tonnes in the same period last year.
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HS 17029012 (Simple solid mixtures of cane sugar, beet sugar and other sugars, with sucrose content exceeding 50%): 6,640 tonnes imported in March, with Q1 total of 8,590 tonnes—a sharp decline from 62,000 tonnes in the same period last year.
II. Source Countries and Port Distribution for HS 17029011 Imports in March
An analysis of the detailed data for HS 17029011—the single largest growth category in March—shows that imports were concentrated among ASEAN countries, particularly Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia. Among these, imports from Laos led all source countries by a wide margin across the various receiving provinces in China. This structural pattern indicates that, against the backdrop of suspended import declarations from relevant enterprises in Thailand and Vietnam, there has been a pronounced shift in source countries for syrup imports into China.
III. Strong Year-on-Year Growth, But Significantly Below Pre-Regulation 2024 Levels
While Q1 2026 data shows a clear rebound compared with Q1 2025, a longer-term perspective reveals that current import volumes have declined significantly from the peak levels recorded prior to regulatory tightening. According to statistical data compiled by ynsugar covering 2017–2026:
- In 2024, China’s combined imports of syrup and premixed sugar powder totaled 2.3767 million tonnes, an increase of 545,500 tonnes year-on-year, marking an all-time historical high.
- In 2025, total annual imports fell back to 1.1836 million tonnes.
- In Q1 2026, imports reached 265,300 tonnes—while this represents a rebound from Q1 2025, the figure remains markedly below Q1 2024 levels (prior to regulatory intervention).
Historical data shows that prior to 2019, China’s annual syrup imports amounted to only a few tens of thousands of tonnes. Imports began surging in 2020, when the combined volume of syrup and premixed sugar powder imports exceeded 1 million tonnes for the first time. By 2024, this figure had climbed to 2.38 million tonnes, setting a new historical record.
Exemption Statement: The data presented in this report is sourced from GACC. The analysis provided is for market informational purposes only and does not constitute commercial or investment advice. ynsugar.com shall not be held liable for any financial decisions or trading actions taken by readers based on this data.
