The Brazil sugar price rally accelerated in late August, with the CEPEA/ESALQ São Paulo white crystal sugar indicator reaching R$112.06 per 50-kg bag on August 28, 2026, the highest level shown in the latest data.
The August 28 price was up 1.33% on the day and 22.47% since the beginning of the month, according to the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (Cepea) at ESALQ, University of São Paulo.
In US dollar terms, Cepea valued the indicator at **$21.54 per 50-kg bag, equivalent to approximately $430.80 per metric tonne**.
The latest move extends a strong rally in Brazil’s domestic spot market. The indicator had stood at R$105.51 per 50 kg on August 24 before climbing for four consecutive sessions to R$112.06 by August 28.
CEPEA/ESALQ São Paulo White Crystal Sugar Indicator
| Date | Price, R$/50 kg | Daily Change | Change in Month | Price, US$/50 kg | Approx. US$/tonne |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2026 | 112.06 | +1.33% | +22.47% | 21.54 | 430.80 |
| August 27, 2026 | 110.59 | +2.42% | +20.86% | 21.41 | 428.20 |
| August 26, 2026 | 107.98 | +1.37% | +18.01% | 20.95 | 419.00 |
| August 25, 2026 | 106.52 | +0.96% | +16.42% | 20.70 | 414.00 |
| August 24, 2026 | 105.51 | +1.09% | +15.31% | 20.47 | 409.40 |
Source: CEPEA/ESALQ, University of São Paulo.
Note: The Brazilian real quotation refers to a 50-kg bag and includes ICMS at 7%, according to Cepea’s published indicator notes. The US dollar values in the table are those displayed by Cepea; the per-tonne figures are calculated by ynsugar.com by multiplying the 50-kg value by 20.
Cepea’s white crystal sugar indicator tracks the spot market in São Paulo, Brazil’s most important sugar-producing state. Its research regularly monitors transactions involving mills, trading companies and buyers in the domestic market. Cepea is part of ESALQ/University of São Paulo and is one of Brazil’s main agricultural price-data institutions.
Domestic sugar market tightens
The latest price movement suggests that availability in Brazil’s domestic spot market has tightened while mill asking prices have strengthened.
The original Cepea market commentary cited lower domestic supply and stronger international sugar prices as factors supporting ex-mill values. At the same time, some local traders were reportedly slowing purchases as they waited for prices to stabilize.
The pace of the increase is notable. Between August 24 and August 28 alone, the indicator rose by R$6.55 per 50-kg bag, or around **6.2%**.
The rally has pushed domestic white sugar prices well above the $400-per-tonne threshold reached earlier in August.
Why Brazil’s domestic sugar price matters
Brazil is the world’s largest sugar exporter, so movements in its domestic market can provide useful signals on the balance between local availability, export economics and mill selling decisions.
Domestic and export markets are not directly interchangeable, as quality specifications, taxes, logistics, exchange rates and export costs differ. Cepea’s own market studies regularly compare Brazilian domestic sugar values with export-equivalent returns, including freight, port costs and international price benchmarks.
For the international sugar market, the next key variables will include the pace of Center-South Brazil’s cane crush, sugar production, the sugar-versus-ethanol production mix, export flows and movements in ICE raw sugar futures.
For now, however, the latest Cepea data show a clear development: Brazilian domestic white sugar prices have accelerated sharply during August, rising more than 22% within the month and reaching roughly $431 per tonne by August 28.
Data and methodology note
The primary data in this article come from the CEPEA/ESALQ White Crystal Sugar Indicator – São Paulo, published by the Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics at ESALQ, University of São Paulo.
Cepea’s sugar-market research covers spot-market price formation in Brazil and uses information collected from market participants. Its sugar methodology and market reports also reference transactions and information from producers, trading companies and other commercial participants.
The US-dollar-per-tonne figures shown in this article are simple conversions of Cepea’s published US-dollar values per 50-kg bag:
US$/50 kg × 20 = US$/metric tonne
No independent exchange-rate conversion has been substituted for Cepea’s published dollar values.
📌 Deep Dive into China’s Sugar Imports
For comprehensive tracking of import tariffs, monthly customs data, and origin-wise sugar arrivals, explore our dedicated pillar resource:
China Sugar Import & Trade Report Hub.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available market data from CEPEA/ESALQ and is provided for informational and industry-research purposes only. Calculations made by ynsugar.com are identified separately from the source data. The information does not constitute investment, trading or commercial advice. Sugar prices, exchange rates and market conditions may change rapidly, and readers should independently verify information before making business or investment decisions.
Source: Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics (CEPEA), ESALQ/University of São Paulo.
