Shortage of Sugar



I would not call myself a sugar-oholic.  However, I do love me some sweets.

That said, the sight of this in early February was concerning:

The World Is Running Short of Sugar. Here's Why Prices Are Likely to Rise Even More

Just as the world’s top sugar traders forecast a global shortage of the commodity, No. 1 raw-sugar importer Indonesia says it wants a record amount of the sweet stuff.

The Southeast Asian nation said it aims to import about 1.4 million tons of raw sugar, or 1.33 million tons of the refined variety, for household use this year and in early 2021. That’s a more than 11-fold increase on last year. Meanwhile, domestic output is expected to sink while local demand increases.



Then, there's this from late February:

U.S. faces sugar shortage, higher prices

After last year’s bad weather in the Midwest, a freeze in Louisiana and a drought in Mexico, the United States faces a shortage of sugar this year, with prices for industrial sweetener users to be several cents above average.

A national refiner of raw sugar is offering refined cane sugar at 44 cents per pound now and 41 cents for calendar year 2021, compared with a usual price of 37 to 38 cents.  And a Midwest beet producer is offering beet sugar at 36.5 cents for the year beginning in September, Sterk said, compared to the 33 cents to 35 cents per pound in recent years.



There are some days when sugar is my lifeline.  Even more than Diet Dew.

So yes, this sugar consumer is a little on the edge of my seat with these news stories.

I think a cookie will help calm my nerves though.


Grace & Peace & Love to you all -

Matt