Our refined sugar ICUMSA 35 is the whitest grade we sell: refined cane sugar with a colour limit of 35 IU, made for soft drink bottlers, juice and syrup producers, pharmaceutical plants and anyone whose product shows every trace of colour. We supply it by the container to buyers worldwide, shipped from our bases in Thailand and Brazil.
In the trade you will often hear this grade called “Coca-Cola grade” or “beverage grade” sugar. That nickname simply describes the very low colour that big beverage companies ask for. It does not mean we, or this sugar, have any connection with that company. On contracts we always name it by its ICUMSA number.
Quick specs: refined sugar ICUMSA 35
- Colour: 35 ICUMSA units max, sparkling white
- Polarization: 99.80% min
- Moisture: 0.04% max | Ash: 0.04% max
- Sulphur dioxide: 20 mg/kg max
- Packing: 50 kg PP bags or 1 MT big bags
- Origin: Brazil, Thailand or India (stated on contract)
What refined sugar ICUMSA 35 is
The ICUMSA number measures colour. A sugar solution is tested under the methods published by ICUMSA, and the reading is given in international units. White sugars run from about 35 to 150. The lower the number, the less colour and the fewer impurities left from the cane.
At 35 IU or less, this is about as white as commercial cane sugar gets. Dissolve it in water and you get a solution that looks like water. That matters in a clear lemonade, a tonic, a cough syrup or a sports drink, where a slightly yellow sugar would show up as a slightly yellow product.
Why beverage makers ask for ICUMSA 35
Bottlers don’t just want sweet. They want every batch to look, taste and behave the same, often across many plants. Refined sugar ICUMSA 35 helps because it:
- dissolves completely with no residue or haze
- adds no colour to a clear drink
- has no smell or aftertaste that could interfere with flavour
- is held to tight limits on ash and sulphur dioxide
If your drink is coloured anyway, or you are baking rather than bottling, you may be paying for whiteness you don’t need. In that case look at our ICUMSA 45 sugar for sale or cane sugar ICUMSA 100.
Refined sugar ICUMSA 35 specification
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Product type | Refined white cane sugar |
| ICUMSA colour | 35 IU maximum |
| Polarization | 99.80% minimum |
| Moisture | 0.04% maximum |
| Ash content | 0.04% maximum |
| Solubility | 100% dry and free flowing |
| Colour (visual) | Sparkling white |
| Radiation | Normal, none detected |
| Granulation | Fine to medium |
| Magnetic particles | 4.0 mg/kg maximum |
| Sulphur dioxide | 20 mg/kg maximum |
| Smell | Free from foreign odours |
| Crop | Current or recent harvest |
| Origin | Brazil / Thailand / India (specify) |
Every lot of refined sugar ICUMSA 35 is inspected against these figures at loading. If your QA department has extra parameters, such as a microbiological limit or a particle size range, send them with your inquiry so we can confirm before the contract. Our ICUMSA 35 sugar guide covers the grade in more depth.
ICUMSA 35 against ICUMSA 45
This is the comparison we are asked about most.
| ICUMSA 35 | ICUMSA 45 | |
|---|---|---|
| Colour limit | 35 IU | 45 IU |
| Look | Sparkling white | Brilliant white |
| Typical buyer | Clear beverages, pharma syrups | General food and drink, retail packs |
| Availability | Fewer mills produce it | Widely traded |
| Price | Usually higher | Usually lower |
For the rest of the range, see crystal white sugar for sale, ICUMSA 150 white sugar and raw brown cane sugar, or our full ICUMSA scale guide.
Who uses refined sugar ICUMSA 35
- Beverages: clear sodas, tonics, energy and sports drinks, flavoured water, premium juices
- Pharmaceuticals: syrups, suspensions and coated tablets
- Confectionery: clear hard candies, gums, white chocolate
- Dairy and bakery: premium ice cream, yoghurt, white icings and fondants
Beverage producers can read more in our guide to ICUMSA sugar for beverage industry buyers.
What your QA team should check on the first lot
Most bottlers run their own tests on a new supplier’s first container, and they should. For refined sugar ICUMSA 35, the checks that tell you the most are:
- Colour in solution. Your lab’s ICUMSA reading should agree with the inspection certificate within normal method tolerance.
- Turbidity or floc. Make up a syrup, let it stand, and look for haze or sediment. Good beverage sugar stays clear.
- Odour and taste. A warm syrup test will show any off-notes picked up in storage or transport.
- Moisture and flow. Check bags from the front and back of the container, and confirm the sugar runs freely through your dosing line.
- Foreign matter. Sieve a sample and check the magnet catch against the 4 mg/kg limit.
Keep a retained sample from every delivery. If a later lot of refined sugar ICUMSA 35 ever behaves differently, you will have something to compare it with, and so will we.
Planning supply for a bottling plant
Beverage demand peaks in hot months, and so does pressure on sugar supply. Buyers who plan ahead usually do better on price and delivery than those buying container by container in a rush. A simple approach that works for many plants:
- Agree a monthly volume of refined sugar ICUMSA 35 for the season, with shipment dates spread out.
- Hold four to six weeks of stock locally to cover the sea voyage and port delays.
- Fix the specification, packing and inspection company once, so every lot arrives on the same terms.
Our posts on container vs bulk vessel shipping and FOB vs CIF pricing help with the logistics side of that plan.
Packing, loading and lead time
- 50 kg woven polypropylene bags with inner liner
- 1 MT big bags for direct silo discharge
- Private label bags on larger orders
We ship in 20 ft or 40 ft containers on FOB, CFR or CIF terms. A 20 ft container carries around 25 MT. Orders are normally processed within 2 to 4 business days after payment clears, and sea freight then takes about 3 to 6 weeks depending on your port.
Ordering refined sugar ICUMSA 35
- Inquiry. Send quantity, port, packing, Incoterm and any extra QA parameters.
- Quote and contract. We confirm the spec, then issue a pro forma invoice and sales contract.
- Payment. By bank transfer, as set out in our billing policy.
- Inspection and loading. SGS or an equivalent firm inspects the cargo as it is loaded.
- Shipment. We email the bill of lading and tracking details. See our shipping policy for the details.
Documents
Each shipment of refined sugar ICUMSA 35 comes with a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and quality certificate. If your country needs a health or phytosanitary certificate, tell us at inquiry stage so it can be arranged before loading. Our guide on documents you need to import sugar lists the usual set. Import rules for food are generally built on Codex Alimentarius standards and the WTO sanitary and phytosanitary rules.
Price
Refined sugar ICUMSA 35 usually costs a bit more per ton than ICUMSA 45, because fewer refineries make it and the process is tighter. The final number depends on the world white sugar market, your volume, packing, freight and Incoterm. We quote it fresh for every inquiry rather than posting a price that goes stale. If you want to understand how quotes are built, read ICUMSA sugar pricing factors.
Storage
Store on pallets in a cool, dry, clean warehouse away from strong smells, since white sugar can pick up odours. Keep bags closed and rotate stock first in, first out. Kept this way it stays in good condition for around two years. Check the cargo when the container is opened and report any wet, stained or damaged bags to us and the carrier within 48 hours.
Why buy refined sugar ICUMSA 35 from Global Sugar Supplies
- Supply from Thailand and Brazil for more stable availability
- Specification written into the contract, with inspection at loading
- One team from first quote to bill of lading
- Trial container first, then a regular programme if you are happy
Please check us properly before you pay. Our guide on verifying a sugar supplier tells you how.
Refined sugar ICUMSA 35: FAQs
What is the minimum order?
For refined sugar ICUMSA 35, one 20 ft container is the usual minimum. Trial lots may be possible for some markets, so ask.
How long does it keep?
Around two years in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, with bags kept closed.
Can I order a sample?
Yes. We send samples of refined sugar ICUMSA 35 by courier. Free or paid depends on the destination and shipping method.
Which origins can you offer?
Brazil, Thailand or India, depending on the season and your port. The origin is fixed in the contract and shown on the certificate of origin, so your import permit and paperwork line up.
Is it really used only for drinks?
No. Beverages are the biggest users, but pharma, dairy and confectionery plants buy it too whenever colour matters.
Get a quote for ICUMSA 35
Send your quantity, port and spec through our contact form, email info@globalsugarsupply.com, or call or WhatsApp +1 (559) 629 4830. See all our sugar products or read more about us.
