What is ICUMSA 45 sugar? Grades, specifications and how to buy it

What "ICUMSA" actually measures

ICUMSA stands for the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis — the body that standardises how sugar is tested worldwide. In trade, "ICUMSA" followed by a number refers to the sugar's colour, measured in RBU (Reference Base Units) using ICUMSA method GS2/3-10. Colour is a proxy for purity: the more thoroughly sugar is refined, the fewer colour-bearing impurities remain and the lower the number.

So the rule of thumb is simple: the lower the ICUMSA number, the whiter and purer the sugar. ICUMSA 45 sits at the very top of the scale.

What ICUMSA 45 means

ICUMSA 45 sugar has a colour of 45 RBU or lower. It is fully refined, sparkling white, free-flowing crystal sugar with a polarization of at least 99.80° — fit for direct human consumption without further processing. That is why it is the grade specified by food and beverage manufacturers, bottlers, confectioners and pharmaceutical producers, and the grade most international buyers mean when they simply say "refined sugar".

ICUMSA 45 vs. 100, 150, 600 and 1200

Sugar is traded at several points on the scale, and the grade determines both price and use:

ICUMSA 100–150 is often called "white sugar" or "Grade A/B" and is common in retail markets that do not require the highest specification. ICUMSA 600–1200 is raw sugar — brown, with visible molasses — bought by refineries and some industrial users. It is a different product from ICUMSA 45, and a much cheaper one; an "ICUMSA 45" offer priced like raw sugar is a warning sign, not a bargain.

Where ICUMSA 45 comes from

Brazil is the world's largest sugar producer and exporter; Thailand is consistently in the top three exporters. Both have large, modern cane refineries that produce ICUMSA 45 to international standards, which is why the bulk of ICUMSA 45 traded internationally carries Brazilian or Thai origin. Thai sugar ships mainly from Laem Chabang and Bangkok; Brazilian sugar mainly from Santos.

How ICUMSA 45 is packed and shipped

The export standard is 50 kg polypropylene (PP) woven bags with an inner liner, containerised for shipment. 25 kg bags are used for some retail-facing buyers, and 1 MT jumbo bags for industrial users. Sugar is sold CIF (seller arranges freight and insurance to your port) or FOB (buyer arranges the vessel from the loading port); the choice affects the price and who carries transit risk.

What to check before you buy

The sugar market attracts more fraudulent "offers" than almost any other commodity — usually unrealistically cheap ICUMSA 45 from an anonymous intermediary. Before contracting:

1. Insist on a spec sheet and per-lot certificate. A refinery quality certificate and an independent inspection report (weight, colour, polarization, packing) should accompany every shipment.
2. Sanity-check the price. ICUMSA 45 trades at a premium to raw sugar and moves with the world market. A price far below market is the single most reliable fraud signal.
3. Pay only through a banking instrument. An irrevocable letter of credit protects both sides; requests for upfront transfers outside a bank instrument should end the conversation.
4. Verify the company, not just the website. Registration documents, a real office, named people, and a willingness to meet or video-call. Our guide to verifying a commodity supplier walks through every check.
5. Know your Incoterm. Confirm whether the offer is CIF or FOB, and to which port — it changes the price by the cost of freight and insurance.