Demand for cane and beet sugar in the United States grew modestly alongside population growth during the first half of the 2025/2026 marketing year, while deliveries of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) experienced a notable drop. 

According to a report released on Thursday, July 30, 2026, by rural lender CoBank, analysing compiled United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) delivery data, the trend indicates that food manufacturers and consumers are increasingly favouring natural sweeteners over highly processed alternatives.

Between October 2025 and March 2026, combined U.S. cane and beet sugar deliveries rose by 0.6 per cent, reaching 6.079 million short tons. This growth aligned closely with the annual U.S. population increase of 0.5 per cent. 

In contrast, HFCS deliveries fell 3.5 per cent over the same period. CoBank noted that while headlines frequently highlight public health concerns regarding sugar intake, actual purchasing behaviour demonstrates robust, broad-based demand for natural sweeteners, particularly across wholesale grocers, food distributors, and bakery manufacturers.

Despite near-term market stability, the report cautioned that the sweetener industry faces emerging long-term headwinds. 

A 2025 survey by the International Food Information Council revealed that three out of four American consumers attempt to limit or avoid sugar. 

Furthermore, health-focused policy initiatives like the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, alongside the expanding adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss medications, could curb total food intake. 

CoBank cited projections indicating active GLP-1 users could reduce their grocery basket sizes by up to 31 per cent, presenting long-term demand challenges for sweetened food and beverage categories.

Source: Reuters