Molasses market in Central Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The molasses market in Central Asia contracted sharply from 74,297 t in 2018 to 38,980 t in 2021, a decline of nearly 48%. This downward trajectory reversed in 2022, with market volume expanding to 52,121 t and reaching 54,392 t in 2023.

The market recovery in 2022 coincided with global developments such as the Shell and Raizen agreement to produce 3.2 billion liters of cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane, stimulating demand for sugarcane by-products. In 2023, a surge in net imports to 6,768 t drove growth, influenced by global supply constraints including poor sugarcane harvests in Brazil and India's policy shift to allow more sugarcane for ethanol production, which tightened world sugar supplies and affected molasses trade flows into the region.

Factors in 2024 indicate ongoing influences, with increased starch-based molasses production in Russia and higher global sugar prices due to crop shortages and currency fluctuations, which may continue to shape Central Asia's import patterns and market conditions.

Production molasses in Central Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of molasses, 2017-2020

World map of production of molasses, 2017-2020

Central Asia's molasses production declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 40 066 tons of molasses, which represents a 29.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 34.1%, with an average annual decline of 13.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 72 403 tons, which also saw the largest increase of 19.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports molasses from Central Asia

Exports in kind, t

The market showed significant volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 156 tons and peaked in 2018 at 1 838 tons, representing an 11.8-fold difference between these two years. In 2020, Central Asia exported 553 tons of molasses, marking a sharp increase of 254.4% from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 91.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout this period. Export values hit their minimum in 2019 at 42.3 thousand US dollars and reached their maximum in 2018 at 718.3 thousand US dollars, showing a 17-fold difference. In 2020, molasses exports from Central Asia totaled 206.3 thousand US dollars, reflecting a dramatic year-over-year increase of 388.1%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 94.1%.

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

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

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

Imports molasses to Central Asia

Imports in kind, t

Molasses imports to Central Asia declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported 1 789 tons of molasses, showing a modest decrease of 9.4% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 40.3%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 15.8%. The highest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 3 733 tons. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 47.1% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 24.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Russia and China were the primary sources for molasses imports to Central Asia, together accounting for 31.3% of total import volumes.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited volatility during these years. Import values dropped to their lowest point in 2019 at 296.3 thousand US dollars and peaked in 2018 at 892.6 thousand US dollars, with a threefold difference between these years. In 2020, molasses imports to Central Asia amounted to 383.6 thousand US dollars, representing a 29.5% increase from the previous year. The largest decline was in 2019 at 66.8%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 at 44.4%.

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

During the period from 2017 to 2020, Russia and China played the leading roles in molasses imports to Central Asia in value terms, jointly accounting for 50.7% of total import flows.

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

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