Sugar Specifications Guide

Know Before You Buy

Before signing a purchase contract, it’s essential to understand what each number on the sugar spec sheet actually means. This guide breaks down ICUMSA colour ratings, polarity, moisture, ash content, and more—so you can evaluate quality with confidence.

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1. What Is ICUMSA?

ICUMSA (International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis) assigns a colour rating in IU (ICUMSA Units). Lower values = whiter, more refined sugar.

ICUMSA Grade	Common Use Case
IC 45	Pharmaceutical, carbonated drinks
IC 150	Bakery, dairy, sauces
600–1200	VHP sugar for industrial refining
1200	Rawest form, high molasses content

2. Core Quality Parameters

Parameter	Why it Matters	Typical Range (Brazil)
Colour (ICUMSA IU)	Indicates whiteness	45 – 1200 IU
Polarity (°Z)	Measures sucrose purity	97.8 – 99.9 °Z
Moisture (%)	Affects shelf life, caking	0.04 – 0.15%
Ash (%)	Mineral residue, taste impact	0.04 – 0.25%
Reducing Sugars (%)	Risk of caramelisation	≤ 0.20%

3. Brazilian Sugar Grades at a Glance

ICUMSA 45 – Refined White Sugar

Applications: carbonated drinks, retail packaging, pharma.

ICUMSA 150 – Crystal White Sugar

Applications: sauces, dairy, processed foods.

VHP Raw Sugar (ICUMSA 600–1200)

Applications: ethanol, refining, fermentation.

Raw Brown Sugar

Applications: organic baking, spirits, specialty foods.

4. Accepted Tolerances

Brazilian export contracts follow GAFTA 126 or FOSFA 111 rules:

Parameter	Tolerance Limit
Colour	±10 IU
Polarity	−0.1 °Z max deviation
Moisture	+0.02% absolute

⚠️ Exceeding tolerances gives buyers the right to claim quality allowance or reject the shipment.

5. Laboratory Testing Methods

All tests are conducted by SGS or Bureau Veritas, and buyers may observe.

Test	Method & Standard
Colour	Photometric @ 420nm (ICUMSA GS 2-13)
Polarity	Polarimeter @ 20°C (ICUMSA GS 1-11)
Moisture	Oven dry @ 105°C (ICUMSA GS 2-1)
Ash	Conductivity method (GS 2-24)
Reducing Sugar	Lane-Eynon Titration (GS 2-5)

6. Sugar Packaging & Labelling Standards

Label includes: grade, crop year, lot #, net weight, “Product of Brazil”

7. Sugar Certification Matrix

Certificate	IC 45	IC 150	VHP	Brown
ISO 9001 / HACCP	✔	✔	✔	✔
Halal	✔	✔	✔	✔
Kosher	✔	✔	✖	✖
Bonsucro	✔	✔	✔	✔
Organic	✖	✖	✖	Option

F. A. Q

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can ICUMSA 150 be blended into ICUMSA 45?

A: No. Colour must be refined—not blended—to reach IC 45.

Q: Do you supply sulphur-free sugar?

A: Yes. All refined grades are carbonated, not sulphitated.

Q: Is Brazilian sugarcane GMO?

A: No. All cane used in Brazil’s export sugar is non-GMO.

Q: What is the carbon footprint per tonne?

A: 240 kg CO₂e/MT (2024 audited), 18% below global average.