Sucrose in solid form market in New Caledonia

Earlier Report Observations

The sucrose market in New Caledonia opened the period at 6 933 t in 2018. That year, the General Consumption Tax (TGC) was introduced, exempting solid sucrose from the levy while taxing sugar-sweetened beverages at 22%, creating a fiscal inconsistency in the sector. Market volume then fell sharply to 4 922 t in 2019, driven by local industry strategies to reduce added sugar in food products through research into substitutes like maltodextrin for reformulation.

After a rebound to 6 849 t in 2020, the market entered a phase of gradual decline, with volumes reaching 6 570 t in 2021, 6 118 t in 2022, and 5 929 t in 2023.

A major regulatory shift came in 2024 with the enactment of a specific tax on sugar-containing food products, set at 30 CFP francs per kilogram for solid sugar and syrups. The tax applies to both domestically produced and imported goods, aiming to reduce sugar content and shift consumer habits amid high local prevalence of diabetes and obesity.

Production sucrose in solid form in New Caledonia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of sucrose in solid form, 2017-2020

World map of production of sucrose in solid form, 2017-2020

The market exhibited significant volatility during this period. Production volumes reached their lowest point in 2018 at 46 tonnes, then peaked in 2017 with a 42-fold difference between these years. In 2020, New Caledonia produced 60 tonnes of sucrose in solid form, representing a 21.8% decrease from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 97.6%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 66.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in New Caledonia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports sucrose in solid form from New Caledonia

According to industry reports, New Caledonia did not export any sucrose in solid form between 2017 and 2020.

Imports sucrose in solid form to New Caledonia

Imports in kind, t

Following a two-year decline, imports of sucrose in solid form into New Caledonia rebounded. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2019 at 4 845 tonnes, which represented a 29.7% decrease. In 2020, imports surged to 6 788 tonnes, marking a sharp 40.1% year-over-year increase. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 6.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to New Caledonia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, New Zealand (47.2% of imports by volume), Malaysia (27.2%), and Thailand (19.8%) were the main sources of sucrose in solid form imports into New Caledonia, collectively accounting for 94.2% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After two consecutive years of decline, the value of sucrose in solid form imports into New Caledonia increased. The lowest import value was recorded in 2019 at 2 591 thousand US dollars, representing a 27.7% decrease. In 2020, imports rose dramatically to 3 570 thousand US dollars, a 37.8% increase compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import values decreased by 18.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, New Zealand (52.7% of imports by value), Malaysia (21.3%), and Thailand (16.9%) were the primary suppliers of sucrose in solid form to New Caledonia, together accounting for 90.9% of total import value.

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

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