USDA ERS: Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook December 15, 2025

Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook December 15, 2025

U.S. Sugar Outlook

U.S. 2025/26 Beet Sugar Production Is Reduced To A 5-Year Low

U.S. beet sugar production for fiscal year 2025/26 is reduced from last month by 113,000 STRV to

5.098 million (table 1), about 272,000-STRV lower (5 percent) than the previous year and the

lowest since 2020/21. The reduction is mainly due to a higher sugarbeet shrink estimate (8.66

percent versus last month’s 10-year average of 6.73 percent) based on beet processors’

submission to the USDA, Farm Service Agency, Sweetener Market Data (SMD) report (table 2).

The estimate for sucrose recovery is mostly unchanged at 14.79 percent (based on a 10-year

average from 2015/16–2024/25), which is lower than last year’s record (15.46 percent) and the 5-

year average (15.11 percent) but consistent with the processors’ submission (14.95 percent).

Similarly, the estimate for August–September 2026 sugar production (654,000 STRV; also based

on a 10-year average) is consistent with the processors (652,000 STRV). There were no updates

to the field-related variables (area harvested, yield, and sugarbeet production) as the USDA,

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) December Crop Production report did not include

sugarbeets. The next update for sugarbeets will be available in the January 12 Crop Production

Annual Summary report.

The larger estimate for sugarbeet shrink and relatively low sucrose recovery reflect a mixture of

weather-related challenges during the growing season. The issues ranged from hailstorms, warm

nighttime temperatures, and either lack of rain or too much rain depending on the area. Areas with

excessive moisture experienced disease pressure (due to Cercospora) and weed pressure, as well

as difficulty in going into fields to apply fungicides.

Vidalina Abadam, coordinator