Buyers searching for Brazilian sugar meet three terms over and over — VHP, crystal and ICUMSA 45. They are not competing brands; they are points along the same refining chain. Choosing the right one starts with what you actually do with the sugar.
It comes down to the ICUMSA colour scale
ICUMSA is a colour rating: the lower the number, the whiter and more refined the sugar. Raw VHP sits high on the scale (it is brown), crystal is lighter, and ICUMSA 45 is the bright-white, fully refined grade for direct consumption.
VHP (Very High Polarization) raw sugar
VHP is the raw, refining-grade cane sugar Brazil ships in bulk to refineries worldwide. It polarizes very high (typically 99.3–99.5°) but still carries the natural colour of cane. Refineries decolourize and crystallize it into their own white sugar. If you run a refinery or need the lowest-cost feedstock at vessel scale, VHP is your grade.
Crystal sugar
Crystal is a directly-usable white sugar, lighter than VHP but not refined to retail-white standards. It suits industrial buyers and traders who need a usable white sugar without running a refinery.
ICUMSA 45 refined white sugar
ICUMSA 45 is the finished product: sparkling-white, fully-refined, high-purity sugar for direct human consumption, retail packing and the food and beverage industry. It is the highest-value grade and the one African and Middle Eastern packers most often request by name.
Quick comparison
- VHP — raw, bulk, lowest cost, for refineries. Sold by the vessel.
- Crystal — usable white, mid-grade, for industry and traders.
- ICUMSA 45 — refined, retail-ready, highest value, for packers and food manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
Is ICUMSA 45 better than VHP?
Neither is 'better' — they serve different buyers. ICUMSA 45 is refined for direct consumption; VHP is raw feedstock for refineries. The right grade depends on whether you refine sugar yourself.
What ICUMSA number is white refined sugar?
Refined white sugar for direct consumption is ICUMSA 45 — the lowest (whitest) common grade. Crystal sugar is higher (less refined), and raw VHP is higher still.
Further reading
Source the right sugar grade
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