Molasses market in Belgium

Earlier Report Observations

The Belgian molasses market opened the period at 426.7 thousand tonnes in 2018, supported by a concentrated sugar sector dominated by two major producers. However, volume fell sharply to 314.3 thousand tonnes in 2019, primarily due to dry weather conditions that reduced sugar beet yields and consequently sugar and molasses output. A recovery to 361.3 thousand tonnes followed in 2020 as the industry anticipated a market rebound.

After a decrease to 306.9 thousand tonnes in 2021, market volume grew to 336.3 thousand tonnes in 2022. This expansion was driven by Raffinerie Tirlemontoise launching a new activity to refine imported cane sugar, which increased overall sugar processing and molasses production despite challenging weather for local beet.

The market contracted sharply to 227.3 thousand tonnes in 2023, a shift largely explained by significant imports of raw sugar under the active processing regime, which disrupted the balance of the EU sugar market and affected local production. The decline continued to 194.1 thousand tonnes in 2024 amid a marked drop in European sugar prices, pressured by rising global production, particularly from Brazil, which constrained the Belgian sugar and molasses sector.

Production molasses in Belgium

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In Belgium, molasses production reached a value of 22,872 thousand US dollars in 2020, marking a solid increase of 11.9% compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 23,537 thousand US dollars, while the minimum occurred in 2019 at 20,443 thousand US dollars. The largest decline was observed in 2019, with a drop of 13.1%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 2.5%, translating to an annualized rate of 0.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of molasses, 2017-2020

World map of production of molasses, 2017-2020

In Belgium, molasses production in 2020 amounted to 162.3 thousand tonnes, showing no change from the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 167.4 thousand tonnes. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a decrease of 3.5%, while the largest increase was in 2018, with a rise of 21.1%. From 2017 to 2020, production increased by 17.4%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 5.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports molasses from Belgium

Exports in kind, K t

Belgium's molasses exports declined in 2020, with a volume of 104.4 thousand tonnes, representing a sharp drop of 47.9% compared to the previous year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 200.2 thousand tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 5.3%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 44.8%, corresponding to an annualized decline of 17.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands and France dominated Belgium's molasses exports in kind, jointly accounting for 95.1% of total flows, with other countries making up the remaining share.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Belgium exported molasses worth 13,943 thousand US dollars, a decrease of 25.1% year-over-year. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 18,626 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest increase of 5.8%. Between 2017 and 2020, exports fell by 21%, with an annualized decline of 7.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

During 2017–2020, France and the Netherlands played leading roles in Belgium's molasses exports in value terms, together accounting for 93.4% of total flows, while other destinations distributed the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020

Imports molasses to Belgium

Imports in kind, K t

Belgium's molasses imports declined for the third consecutive year in 2020, standing at 303.4 thousand tonnes, a decrease of 14.1% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 35.2%, with an annualized decline of 13.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, the Netherlands, and Russia led Belgium's molasses imports in kind, with shares of 39.0%, 22.7%, and 10.6%, respectively, together representing 72.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Belgium imported molasses worth approximately 50,326 thousand US dollars, an increase of 2.4% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 49,163 thousand US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 27.6%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 33.5%, with an annualized decline of 12.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, Germany, the Netherlands, and Russia formed the core of Belgium's molasses imports in value terms, with shares of 38.4%, 24.3%, and 9.4%, respectively, together accounting for 72.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020