In Russia, 64% of the sugar production market is held by five companies. Prodimex, with a  21.1% share (-1.0 p.p.), is a leader among domestic producers. Rusagro became second largest sugar producer in Russia with a share of 13.5% (+1 p.p.). Dominant placed third with a share of 13,4% (+1.5 p.p.). The fourth place was occupied by Sucden, which expanded its share to 11.8% (+2.7 p.p.) through the acquisition of TRIO sugar plants.

In 2020, the annual average price of sugar, based on Krasnodar data, rose by 11% year-on-year and reached RUB 27.5 per kg, exclusive of VAT. In a 12-month period, prices spiralled upwards by 78% – from RUB 19.6 per kg in January to RUB 34.9 per kg in December. The average price for August-December 2020 amounted to RUB34.6 per kg, exclusive of VAT, which is up 79% compared with a similar period last year.

The positive price behaviour in the domestic market was influenced by a decrease in the sugar beet harvest and, as a result, sugar production. The first significant spike in prices occurred in March (+25% compared to February) after the appearance of information about a significant decline in cultivated area, as well as the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The rise in domestic prices at the beginning of the year was also supported by the situation on the global sugar markets. Due to poor yield of sugar cane in Thailand and sugar beet in the EU and CIS countries, world prices for sugar (contract Sugar No. 11) exhibited an increase – in February 2020 they hit a 3-year high and reached USD 332 per tonne. This increased exports to the CIS countries and some non-traditional destinations.

The next significant rise in prices was experienced in September and October, when under expectations of harvest drop the price jumped by 20% two months in a row (to RUB 33.1 per kg in September and to RUB 39.6 per kg in October). In November, prices began to gradually decline: in November they dropped by 5% compared to October, in December – by another 8%. The downward price movements at the end of the year were also spurred by government measures to control the maximum price level. On 16 December 2020, on behalf of the President and the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, agreements were signed to limit sugar prices from 20 December to 1 April 2021 to a level not exceeding RUB 36.0 per kg inclusive of VAT for retail chains.

In 2020, the national export of white sugar grew by 76% (+522 thousand tonnes) – up to 1,208 thousand tonnes. The growth was mainly driven by heavy sugar stocks in Russia as at the end of 2019 and the abolition of duties on the import of white sugar to Uzbekistan. The major buyers of Russian sugar are Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Twenty seven percent of the total volume of sugar exports from Russia, or 321 thousand tonnes of sugar (+53%), were sold to Kazakhstan, and 26%, or 316 thousand tonnes (+139%), – to Uzbekistan. Another 282 thousand tonnes (+27%) of sugar were sold to Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Belarus, and other CIS countries. In 2020, Russia also exported 115 thousand tonnes (+111 thousand tonnes) to non-CIS countries.

Influenced by the large sugar stocks in Russia, the cut in sugar production in Belarus and the imposition of duties on sugar imports to Kaliningrad from 1 January 2020, imports of white sugar to Russia dropped by 31% – down to 166 thousand tonnes. The main importer of sugar to Russia is Belarus (96%).

The situation on the sugar market in Russia in 2021 will depend on the yield of sugar beet and its sugar content, as well as export opportunities and world sugar prices. The area under sugar beet is anticipated to expand due to the rise in sugar prices. However, the higher profitability of alternative crops may contain the growth of beet planting. The yield and sugar content will further depend on weather conditions, which, given an average air temperature increase tendency generally favourable for the Central Russia, are affected by year-to-year variation in the level of moisture and the strength of winds.