Export Guide
How to Import Thai Sugar: ICUMSA Grades Explained
A practical guide for wholesale buyers on importing Thai sugar — ICUMSA grades, documentation, Incoterms, and quality verification.
Last updated: 2026-08-01
Quick Answer
Quick Answer: To import Thai sugar wholesale, identify the ICUMSA grade your market requires (e.g. ICUMSA 45 for white refined), confirm FOB or CIF terms with a Thai exporter, arrange a Letter of Credit or TT payment, and verify each shipment with a Certificate of Analysis before customs clearance.
What ICUMSA grades should importers know?
ICUMSA measures sugar color and purity. ICUMSA 45 is the most traded white refined grade for food and beverage use. ICUMSA 100–150 suits industrial applications. Brown and VHP grades serve refining and specialty markets.
- ICUMSA 45 — premium white refined, global food standard
- ICUMSA 100/150 — light to medium refined
- VHP — high polarization raw sugar for refineries
- Brown cane sugar ICUMSA 600–1200 — specialty and industrial
What documentation is required for sugar imports?
Every sugar shipment requires export documentation aligned with destination customs rules. Thai exporters typically provide COA, Certificate of Origin, phytosanitary certificate, and fumigation records where applicable.
How do FOB and CIF affect sugar import costs?
Under FOB, the buyer arranges freight and insurance from the Thai loading port. Under CIF, the exporter includes freight and insurance to the destination port — simplifying logistics for buyers without their own freight contracts.
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