ICUMSA 45 vs 100 vs 150: Which Refined Sugar Grade Should You Buy?

wholesale sugar suppliers
9 hours ago
7 min read

ICUMSA 45, ICUMSA 100, and ICUMSA 150 are all refined white sugars produced from sugarcane — but they are not interchangeable. The wrong choice can cost you anywhere from $20 to $80 per metric tonne in unnecessary premiums, fail your product's quality specifications, or trigger customs reclassification at the destination port.

This guide is for buyers who already know they need refined sugar (not raw VHP or ICUMSA 600–1200) and now need to decide which refined grade. We'll cover the specifications side-by-side, the price differential and where it comes from, the industries and applications each grade is best suited to, and a clear decision framework so you can match grade to use case in under a minute.

For background on how the ICUMSA scale itself works, see our ICUMSA sugar ratings guide. For the broader refined-vs-raw distinction, see raw sugar vs refined sugar.

The 30-second answer

If you don't have time to read the full guide:

Choose ICUMSA 45 if you produce clear beverages, pharmaceutical syrups, premium confectionery, or anything sold in transparent packaging where colour purity is visible to the end consumer. It is the global benchmark refined grade and the easiest to resell.
Choose ICUMSA 100 if you need refined-grade purity but your end product masks colour (cookies, baked goods, dairy products, processed foods) and you want to save $15–$30 per tonne versus ICUMSA 45.
Choose ICUMSA 150 if you are supplying African, Middle Eastern, or South Asian markets where buyers actively prefer it, or if you are an industrial buyer running large-volume operations where the $30–$60/MT saving versus ICUMSA 45 compounds into significant annual cost reduction.

The rest of this post explains why.

Specifications side-by-side

All three grades are produced from sugarcane, refined through multiple crystallisation stages, and meet international food-grade standards. The differences are in the degree of refinement.

Specification	ICUMSA 45	ICUMSA 100	ICUMSA 150
Colour (max IU)	45	100	150
Polarisation (Pol %)	99.80 min	99.70 min	99.60 min
Moisture	0.04% max	0.04% max	0.06% max
Ash content	0.04% max	0.04% max	0.06% max
Reducing sugars	0.04% max	0.05% max	0.06% max
Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)	20 mg/kg max	20 mg/kg max	20 mg/kg max
Crystal size	0.5–0.9 mm	0.5–0.9 mm	0.5–1.0 mm
Appearance	Sparkling white	White	Off-white / very light cream
Origin	Brazil (primary), Thailand, India	Brazil, Thailand, India	Brazil, Thailand, India

What the numbers actually mean for buyers:

The ICUMSA colour rating is the headline number, but the related specs (polarisation, moisture, ash) move with it. A lower ICUMSA number means more refining stages — more washing, more decolorisation, more energy and time per tonne. That extra processing is what produces the price gap, and it is also what produces the visible whiteness difference when you put samples of all three side by side.

The polarisation difference between 99.60% (ICUMSA 150) and 99.80% (ICUMSA 45) looks small but matters in two contexts: pharmaceutical applications where regulatory standards specify minimum sucrose content, and industrial applications where you are paying for sucrose content (the higher the Pol, the more sucrose per tonne you actually receive).

For a deeper explanation of polarisation, see our guide on sugar polarization and what Pol 99.8% really means.

Price differential — and what drives it

Pricing is the question every buyer asks first, so let's address it directly. Indicative FOB Santos prices in early 2026:

Grade	Indicative FOB Santos	Premium vs ICUMSA 150
ICUMSA 45	$480–$520 / MT	+$40 to +$80 / MT
ICUMSA 100	$460–$495 / MT	+$15 to +$30 / MT
ICUMSA 150	$440–$465 / MT	— (baseline refined)

These ranges reflect spot market conditions in Q1 2026 and will move with the underlying ICE No.11 raw sugar contract. For current pricing context, see sugar market forecast 2026 and what affects sugar prices. For the difference between FOB and CIF quotes you'll receive, see FOB vs CIF sugar pricing.

Why the price gap exists:

The premium for ICUMSA 45 over ICUMSA 150 is not arbitrary. It reflects:

Additional refining cost. Producing ICUMSA 45 requires one or two extra decolorisation stages compared to ICUMSA 150. That means more activated carbon or ion-exchange resin, more energy, and slightly lower yield per tonne of feedstock raw sugar.
Higher quality consistency requirements. ICUMSA 45 is specified for buyers with the strictest quality tolerance — pharmaceutical companies, premium beverage producers — so mills running ICUMSA 45 production lines maintain tighter QC, which carries cost.
Lower production volumes. Most Brazilian mills are optimised for VHP raw sugar export and run dedicated white sugar production for refined grades. ICUMSA 150 is the highest-volume refined grade by output; ICUMSA 45 is produced in smaller, more controlled batches.

When the premium is worth paying:

The ICUMSA 45 premium is worth it when your end product visibly displays the sugar's colour, when regulatory standards mandate it, or when your buyers contractually require it. In every other case, ICUMSA 100 or 150 delivers the same functional sweetness for less money.

Industry-by-industry recommendation

This is the section to bookmark. Find your industry, see the recommended grade.

Beverage manufacturing

Clear carbonated drinks, premium juices, energy drinks, clear syrups: ICUMSA 45 or ICUMSA 35. Any visible tint in the finished bottle is a quality fail, so the lowest-colour grade available is the standard specification. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and similar branded operations specify ICUMSA 35 (Coca-Cola grade) or strict ICUMSA 45.

Cloudy juices, dairy beverages, opaque drinks: ICUMSA 100 or 150. If the end product is naturally opaque or coloured, you cannot see the difference between the grades and there is no quality reason to pay the ICUMSA 45 premium.

For broader context on grade selection for drinks production, our forthcoming sugar for beverage manufacturers page covers it in depth.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Tablets, syrups, oral suspensions, lozenges, tablet coatings: ICUMSA 45. Pharmacopoeial standards (USP, BP, EP) specify minimum sucrose content and maximum impurity levels that effectively require ICUMSA 45 specifications. ICUMSA 100 and 150 do not consistently meet pharmaceutical-grade requirements and should not be substituted.

For colour-critical pharmaceutical syrups, ICUMSA 35 is the safer choice.

Bakery and confectionery

Hard candies, fondants, premium chocolates, white frostings, meringues: ICUMSA 45. Anywhere the sugar's colour is visible in the finished product, ICUMSA 45 is the safer choice.

Cookies, cakes, breads, fillings, glazes: ICUMSA 100 or 150. The Maillard reaction during baking produces brown colours that completely mask any difference between the three refined grades. Paying the ICUMSA 45 premium for a chocolate chip cookie is wasted money.

For a deeper application-by-application breakdown, see sugar for bakery and confectionery.

Industrial food processing

Sauces, processed foods, ready meals, condiments, dairy: ICUMSA 100 or 150. The end product's colour is determined by other ingredients. Sugar selection here is purely about cost per tonne of sucrose delivered.

Distribution, retail repacking, and resale

Branded retail table sugar (premium positioning): ICUMSA 45. Consumers comparing white sugar packets in a supermarket pick the whiter one. Visual brightness is the only differentiator on shelf.

Branded retail table sugar (value positioning): ICUMSA 100 or 150. Cost-led repackers in price-sensitive markets routinely use ICUMSA 150 with no consumer pushback, particularly in markets where ICUMSA 150 is the historical norm.

Re-export to African, Middle Eastern, South Asian markets: ICUMSA 150. This is the dominant grade in these markets. Buyers there know the spec and buy it deliberately. Importing ICUMSA 45 to these markets often costs you margin without commanding a price premium from end buyers.

Industrial fermentation and biofuel

Ethanol, yeast production, citric acid fermentation: don't use any of these grades. For fermentation feedstock, ICUMSA 600–1200 raw sugar or VHP is the correct product. Refined sugar is dramatically over-specified and over-priced for fermentation.

Decision framework: pick a grade in 60 seconds

Run through these four questions in order. Stop at the first "yes."

1. Is your product subject to pharmacopoeial standards (USP, BP, EP) or sold in clear packaging where colour is visible? → Yes: ICUMSA 45 (or ICUMSA 35 for the strictest beverage / pharma applications).

2. Are you supplying African, Middle Eastern, or South Asian markets where ICUMSA 150 is the local standard? → Yes: ICUMSA 150. Don't fight the local market preference.

3. Does your end product mask the sugar's colour (baked, browned, opaque, coloured by other ingredients)? → Yes: ICUMSA 100 or 150, whichever your supplier offers at the better price-quality balance for your volume.

4. None of the above apply? → Default to ICUMSA 45. It is the most liquid grade in international trade, easiest to resell if your demand changes, and carries the lowest reclassification risk at customs.

Common mistakes buyers make

Specifying ICUMSA 45 by default for every product line. Many buyers default to ICUMSA 45 because it's the most well-known grade. If half your output is industrial fermentation or browned baked goods, you are leaving $30–$60 per tonne on the table for no quality benefit.

Substituting ICUMSA 100 or 150 in pharmaceutical applications to save cost. This fails regulatory inspection. Pharmacopoeial sucrose standards are not flexible.

Importing ICUMSA 45 into a market that prices on ICUMSA 150. Common in West and East African markets. The premium you paid does not transfer through to the local resale price, so the cost gap becomes a margin hit.

Confusing ICUMSA 45 with ICUMSA 35. ICUMSA 35 is a separate, even more refined grade specified by Coca-Cola and similar operations. It is not the same product as ICUMSA 45 and not interchangeable. See ICUMSA 35 (Coca-Cola grade).

Accepting "ICUMSA 45" specification without an SGS certificate of analysis. The grade is only as good as its certificate. See sugar quality certificates: how to read SGS reports, COA & lab results.

How to order any of these grades from Brazil

All three grades are available year-round from Brazilian mills, shipped from the Port of Santos in 50kg bags, 1MT FIBC big bags, or break-bulk vessel format depending on order size. Minimum order is typically 135 MT (one 20ft container of 50kg bags) for first-time buyers, with break-bulk vessels starting at 12,500 MT.

The ordering process is the same for all three grades:

Send a buyer profile and target volume to confirm the grade, packaging, and Incoterm
Receive a Soft Corporate Offer (SCO) with FOB Santos pricing
Issue an ICPO and BCL to lock the contract
Open a Letter of Credit or arrange agreed payment terms
Mill produces, SGS inspects, vessel loads, documents are presented

Each step is covered in detail in our how to import sugar from Brazil guide, with the trade documents themselves explained in ICPO, BCL, LOI, SPA & SCO documents explained and the payment mechanism in letter of credit for sugar imports.

Get a quote on the right grade

We supply all three grades — ICUMSA 45, ICUMSA 100/150, and ICUMSA 35 — direct from certified Brazilian mills, with SGS inspection and full export documentation included on every shipment. If you're still unsure which grade fits your application, contact our team with your end-use, target market, and order volume, and we'll recommend the grade that minimises your landed cost without compromising your product specification.

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