Still Hunting 25 %-Below-Market “Refined Sugar”? Try Finding Product That Exists First.
Social-media groups push bulk sugar at impossible prices: “two million tons per month,” “payment at destination,” “huge commission for brokers.” Nothing ships. Nothing funds. Before you sink hours into another allocation fantasy, here is how granulated sugar moves, the real specification used by a proven producer, and the tell-tale signs of a scam.
How Refined Sugar Actually Moves
Mill → Warehouse → Port Silo → Exporter → Vessel → Importer → Distributor.
Each leg is ticketed, sampled, and hedged against the sugar futures curve. Margins are thin, volumes are booked months in advance, and nobody gives a bulk discount big enough to pay five middlemen. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Reference Spec from a Real Producer
The values below come from B&M Sugar’s published data sheet for standard white granulated sugar—an actual supplier, not a broker PDF. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
| Parameter |
Unit |
Target |
| Polarization (sucrose content) |
°Z |
≥ 99.8 |
| Moisture |
% |
≤ 0.05 |
| Colour (420 nm) |
IU |
≤ 45 |
Why Deep Discounts Never Surface
- Transparent futures price:
Any gap between screen price and physical is arbitraged within days.
- Freight and carry cost:
Supramax charters, bunker fuel, and warehouse fees set a floor under delivered cost.
- Export controls:
Major origins license outbound volume; spare supply is limited and priced accordingly.
Broker Myths vs. Reality
| Pitch |
Reality |
| “Allocation” of 1 M MT per month |
Only the world’s top five mills reach that number—under locked contracts. |
| Proof of product before any paperwork |
Mills release lab sheets after they vet the buyer and sign a sale agreement. |
| Letter of credit payable on arrival |
No seller moves sugar across oceans without confirmed payment or SBLC in place. |
| USD 20/t commission, split seven ways |
Total trade margin per tonne is often lower than that. |
Quick Red-Flag Checklist
- Free-mail domain claiming to be “direct with mill.”
- Quantity quoted in “ships” rather than metric tons.
- No mention of bag size, container loading, or break-bulk terms.
- Recycled inspection certificates dated years before the offer.
How Genuine Buyers Secure Cargo
- Work with mills or tier-one traders already approved by their bank.
- Issue a confirmed LC or SBLC before loading.
- Send an inspection team to the port silo prior to vessel nomination.
- Pay screen price plus a narrow premium, not miracle discounts.
Financely reviews sugar mandates backed by mill contracts, warehouse receipts, or funded letters of credit. Broker chains, misspelled specs, or “risk-free arbitrage” pitches are declined. Bring documented product or confirmed credit, and we can structure trade finance around it.
Present a Verified Sugar Deal
Spec data reproduced from B&M Sugar’s public product sheet. Financely structures capital only for transactions with verifiable stock control and bank-confirmed funding.