USDA ERS: Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook September 17, 2026

Sugar and Sweeteners Outlook September 17, 2026

U.S. Sugar Outlook

U.S. Beet Sugar Production Is Raised for 2025/26; Lowered

for 2026/27

U.S. fiscal year 2025/26 beet sugar production is raised 7,000 STRV to 5.076 million on the

availability of final crop-year data (August 2025–July 2026) on sugar from slice and sugar from

molasses from the USDA, Farm Service Agency Sweetener Market Data (SMD) report (table 1).

U.S. fiscal year 2026/27 beet sugar production is reduced from last month by 22,000 STRV to

4.769 million, reflecting 2 consecutive years of decline and the lowest level since 2019/20, based

on USDA, NASS September Crop Production report (figure 1). NASS reflected lower sugarbeet

production to 31.763 million tons, as the decrease in sugarbeet yield (from 31.8 tons per acre to

31.5 tons) more than offsets the increase in area harvested (from 1.008 million acres to 1.009

million).

The 31.5-tons-per-acre yield will be the lowest in 4 years and reflects the first year-over-year

reduction after increasing for 3 consecutive years (2023/24–2025/26) (figure 2). Compared with

last month, NASS lowered yields for major producers Minnesota and North Dakota (as well as

Nebraska and Wyoming), which more than offset increases for Idaho, Michigan, Montana, and

Oregon; yield is unchanged for Colorado and Washington. Weather challenges during spring

planting, and the ongoing drought and hot temperatures are some of the factors affecting yield. As

of the September 8 USDA, Office of the Chief Economist U.S. Agriculture in Drought report, 61

percent of areas planted with sugarbeets are still experiencing drought, down from last week’s 77

percent but above last year’s 30 percent. Meanwhile, the 1.009-million acres of harvested area

would be the third lowest level in 45 years. A combination of several factors likely contributed to the

acreage reduction, including a relatively high level of carryin sugar among sugarbeet processors,

challenging planting season (due to a combination of weather events), high input costs, uncertainty

in sugar demand, and lower sugar prices.

Vidalina Abadam, coordinator