ICUMSA 45, ICUMSA 150 and VHP: Brazilian sugar grades explained

Offers for Brazilian sugar are written in a shorthand of grades and numbers: “ICUMSA 45”, “IC 150”, “VHP 600–1,200”. Understanding them is the first step to buying the right product at the right price.

What ICUMSA measures

ICUMSA is the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis, the body that standardises how sugar is tested. In trade, “ICUMSA” usually refers to colour: the colour of a sugar solution measured by the ICUMSA method and expressed in ICUMSA units (IU). The lower the number, the whiter the sugar.

The second key figure is polarisation: the sucrose content measured with a polarimeter and expressed in degrees. Higher polarisation means purer sugar.

Brazil’s main export grades

Grade	Colour (ICUMSA)	Polarisation	Typical use
Refined ICUMSA 45	max. 45 IU	min. 99.80°	Soft drinks, dairy, confectionery, pharmaceuticals
Crystal (açúcar cristal)	100–150 IU	min. 99.70°	Distribution, repacking, bakery, industry
VHP raw sugar	600–1,200 IU	min. 99.20°	Feedstock for refineries
Organic	by format	by format	Certified organic food brands

These are the usual commercial specifications. The binding values are always those written into the sales contract.

Raw versus white

Most of Brazil’s export volume is raw sugar. In 2025, Brazil exported 33.8 million tonnes of sugar: 29.5 million tonnes raw and 4.3 million tonnes white. Raw VHP goes mainly to refineries in the importing countries. White and crystal sugar go directly to food manufacturers and distributors, often in bags and containers.

The two families are priced against different benchmarks:

• Raw sugar is quoted against the ICE Sugar No. 11 futures contract, which is based on raw cane sugar of 96° polarisation.
• White sugar is quoted against the ICE London No. 5 contract.

The gap between the two is known as the “white premium”.

How to choose

• Need sugar ready to use? Refined ICUMSA 45 or crystal sugar. ICUMSA 45 suits clear beverages and products where colour matters. Crystal sugar is a cost-effective choice where absolute whiteness is not critical.
• Do you operate a refinery? VHP in bulk, by the vessel.
• Selling to organic brands? Certified organic sugar, with the certificate supplied for each lot.

A word of caution

“ICUMSA 45” is also the grade most often used in fraudulent online offers. A real specification does not prove that a seller has real sugar. Be wary of offers well below the London No. 5 benchmark, or offers that come with requests for advance fees. Our guide How to buy Brazilian sugar safely explains what to check.

Sources

• ICE Futures U.S., Sugar No. 11 contract rules
• Czapp, The sugar futures contracts explained
• Notícias Agrícolas / DATAGRO, Brazilian sugar exports in 2025 (Secex data)