The Executive Director proposes to conduct a programme of work for the Market Evaluation, Consumption and Statistics Committee (MECAS) as presented in this document for the year 2025.[1] The MECAS program is undertaken in addition to the Secretariat’s substantial regular commitments (see Annex 1 and 2).
There are six key components to MECAS activities, including:
Activities proposed during 2025 for each of these components are presented below.
The Quarterly Market Outlook (one issue each quarter) provides analysis of recent and expected trends, developments and issues in macro-economic drivers and in the world sugar, alternative sweeteners, and molasses markets, as well as in the sugar-crop based renewable energy markets (fuel ethanol, cogeneration). Recent developments in the fermentation-based bioplastics/biochemicals are analysed and updates and commentary on the WTO negotiations on Agriculture and on Regional Trade Agreements are also provided. Each issue provides timely analysis and review of:
The content of the Quarterly Market Outlook will be a focus of attention at the twice yearly MECAS Meetings, along with the ISO studies.
The Monthly Market Report provides market information for the previous month covering all the important sugar and ethanol market developments during the previous month (including information on world sugar market – conditions & prospects, country summaries, new sugar production projects, fuel ethanol in key players, alternative sweeteners & other uses of sugar or sugar cane & beet, fermentation-based bioplastics and biochemicals, cogeneration, WTO and regional trade agreements, as well as ISO news).
The ISO Secretariat has adopted the target of preparing six studies in 2025, consistent with our expected resource level (as discussed later).
Selection of Studies
ISO studies are prepared to meet two key outcomes crucial to the achievement of our strategic direction:
All the proposed study topics for 2025 are consistent with the ISO’s Strategic Direction.
ISO studies are aimed at providing members with objective, factual, professional and timely assessments of developments relating to the key drivers impacting the global markets for sugar, sweeteners, fuel ethanol, sugarcane-based electricity generation, fermentation-based bioplastics/biochemicals and related commodities.
Each year the ISO Secretariat also consults with members in devising the priority listing of research topics, which for 2025 are given in Annex 3.
At each MECAS meeting, the studies to be undertaken from this list for the upcoming MECAS meeting will be discussed. This approach is taken because the sugar, sweeteners, and sugar-crop based renewable energy markets are dynamic and developments are often unforeseeable over the medium term. The approach also ensures that the ISO does not lock itself into research topics which may become no longer relevant.
This yearbook provides comprehensive coverage of sugar production, consumption, trade and stocks for the whole world (about 350 pages, nearly 325 country tables). Individual country tables show production, consumption and trade by countries of origin and destination for the last eight years. 18 world tables including raw and white sugar trade and per capita consumption. The most complete, authoritative and up to date source of world sugar statistics available.
The ethanol yearbook offers around 100 pages of both comprehensive statistics and in-depth analysis of the world fuel ethanol market. The yearbook includes data on world fuel ethanol production, consumption and trade as well as individual national balances with data series on production, import, export, consumption, stocks and prices for key countries.
The ISO also maintains a watching brief on specific issues on an on-going basis, reporting relevant information, in a variety of formats, to members as they arise, and as resources allow, including:
(a) Sugar, Human Health and Nutrition
(b) Sugar and the Environment
(c) Sugar and Sustainable Development
(d) Standardisation and Certification
Professional staff time available during 2025 is 138 weeks – as shown in the table below. Of this total, 32 weeks are anticipated to be required to effectively execute regular non-MECAS activities (see below together with annex 1 for a description of these activities). At 106 weeks, human resources available for MECAS activities in 2025 are the same as in previous years.
| Activity | Person Weeks |
| MECAS | 106 |
| Quarterly Market Outlook | 31 |
| Monthly Market Report | 6 |
| ISO Studies | 48 |
| On-going monitoring | 3 |
| ISO Sugar Yearbook | 10 |
| ISO Ethanol Yearbook | 8 |
| Other Commitments and Activities | 32 |
| TOTAL | 138 |
Annex 1 - Regular Commitments 2025
| Activity | Objective | Output | Timing of Release |
| Sugar Statistics | To compile exhaustive, accurate statistics on key economic variables in the world sugar economy and to disseminate such data on a timely basis. | ISO Sugar Yearbook. Monthly Statistical Bulletin. | August (online) September (hard copy) Around the 5th day of each month (statistics relating to the previous month) |
| Sugar Market Monitoring and Analysis | To conduct timely, objective, relevant analyses of economic developments and trends in the world sugar trade, and to widely disseminate this market information. | Quarterly Market Outlook. Monthly Market Report | February, May, August, November. Around the 5th day of each month (information relating to the previous month) |
| Ethanol market and national fuel ethanol programs monitoring and analysis | To conduct timely, objective, and relevant analyses of trends and developments in ethanol production, consumption, trade and national support policy, and to widely disseminate this market information. | Quarterly Market Outlook. Monthly Market Report | February, May, August, November Around the 5th day of each month (information relating to the previous month) |
| Ethanol Statistics | To compile exhaustive, accurate statistics on key economic variables in the world ethanol economy. To provide a written assessment of the outlook for ethanol production, consumption over the coming decade. To disseminate such data and analysis on a timely basis. | ISO Ethanol Yearbook. | September |
| Analysis of related issues and markets | To conduct timely and relevant analysis of currency moments, domestic prices, related markets and commodities and to widely disseminate this information | Quarterly Market Outlook. Monthly Market Report | February, May, August, November Around the 5th day of each month (information relating to the previous month) |
| Analysis of the molasses markets | To conduct timely and relevant analysis of molasses output, prices, tradeflows and review its use in a broad spectrum of applications, including fermentation and animal feed. | Quarterly Market Outlook. Monthly Market Report | February, May, August, November Around the 5th day of each month (information relating to the previous month) |
| Alternative Sweeteners & By-products monitoring and analysis - High Fructose Corn Sweetener - Intensive Sweeteners - Molasses | To conduct timely, objective, relevant analyses of economic developments and trends in the world markets for alternative sweeteners and molasses, and to widely disseminate this market information. | Quarterly Market Outlook. Monthly Market Report | February, May, August, November Around the 5th day of each month (information relating to the previous month) |
| Bioplastics/biochemicals and cogeneration | To conduct timely, objective, relevant analyses of the developments and trends in the bioplastics/biochemicals and cogeneration sectors world-wide, and to widely disseminate this information. | Quarterly Market Outlook. | February, May, August, November |
| In-depth analysis of a focal market issues | To provide a thorough assessment of key evolving economic drivers in the sugar/ethanol markets not covered by the ISO MECAS studies. | Quarterly Market Outlook: Special Focus | February, May, August, November |
| WTO/RTA/FTA monitoring and analysis | To conduct timely, objective, relevant analyses of the WTO negotiations on agriculture and progress of Regional Trade Agreements and Free Trade Agreements and to widely disseminate this market information. | Quarterly Market Outlook. Monthly Market Report. | February, May, August, November Around the 5th day of each month (information relating to the previous month) |
| ISO Seminar and Workshop | To conduct a seminar and workshop each year addressing relevant and important issues in the world sugar trade and related matters. | ISO Seminar and proceedings. ISO Workshop and proceedings. | December (online) June (online) |
| MECAS Meetings | To provide new economic information about global markets for sugar, sweeteners, fuel ethanol and bagasse-based electricity generation as well as emerging diversification opportunities such as bioplastics and biochemicals. | MECAS Meetings and MECAS Papers. | May/June and November/December, in conjunction with International Sugar Council Sessions |
Other Activities for 2025
| Activity | Objective | Output | Timing |
| Database maintenance/enhancement | To ensure software and programming support for the efficient collation of statistics and the production of publication-ready tables. | Contributes to production of ISO Yearbooks and Monthly Statistical Bulletin. | As required. |
| Joint Events: Planning, organisation and execution. | To prominently position the ISO and increase its visibility. | To strengthen the ISO’s image and reputation as the worldwide recognised centre of excellence | As required. |
| Preparation of papers/speeches for major international fora | Constructive participation and contributions to world sugar and ethanol related fora. Wide dissemination of ISO studies and statistics. | ISO papers and speeches. | As required/invited. |
| General matters, administration, information requests | To ensure efficient and effective operation of the ISO Secretariat and the ISA’92. | Meet provisions of the ISA’92. | As required. |
Annex 2: Summary of Planned Publications: 2025
| Publication | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| ISO Sugar Yearbook 2025 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO Ethanol Yearbook 2025 | · | |||||||||||
| Monthly Market Report | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Quarterly Market Outlook | · | · | · | · | ||||||||
| World Sugar Balances | · | · | · | · | ||||||||
| Statistical Bulletin | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
| Workshop Proceedings 2025 | · | |||||||||||
| Seminar Proceedings 2025 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO study 1 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO study 2 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO study 3 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO study 4 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO study 5 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO study 6 | · | |||||||||||
| ISO Work Programme: 2026 | · |
Annex 3: Proposed Topics for ISO Studies in 2025
| Project Number | Title | Objective | Explanatory Notes | Minimum Weeks | |
| 2025/1 | East Africa: Sugar, Fuel Ethanol and Cogeneration Prospects
| To identify and investigate key drivers impacting East Africa’s sugarand sugar crop renewable energy outlook to 2030. | This study will cover the sugar markets in ten countries including eight EAC countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo; Burundi; Kenya; Rwanda; Somalia; South Sudan; Uganda; Tanzania; as well as Ethiopia and Sudan. Key focus areas include regional self-sufficiency potential, trade flows within East Africa, and opportunities for both exports to other African markets and preferential imports through regional trade agreements. Additionally, the analysis will explore diversification into biofuels and renewable energy through ethanol production and bagasse cogeneration investments. | 8
| |
| 2025/2 | West Africa | To identify and investigate sugar industries and regional trade in West Africa. Sugar consumption patterns will also be reviewed. | For West Africa, we see three regions, with differing profiles, in the East there is the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Eq. Guinea and Central African Republic, before we reach Cameroon. Meanwhile, in the West, we have Mauritania, The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone, before we reach Cote d’Ivoire. The report also needs to cover the coastal states in between, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria as well as the Sahara countries of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. | 8 | |
| 2025/3 | Green Hydrogen: Potential; Challenges; Opportunities for the Global Sugar Industry | Ascertain how the world sugar industry can find a pathway to the Green Hydrogen opportunity, in the context of the already significant green energy potential of the world sugar industry via bioethanol, biopower and biomethane. | Green hydrogen is a potential game changer in the globe’s transition to a low carbon economy. But there remain some very real challenges to advancing production technologies, lowering costs, overcoming logistical challenges and in growing demand for green hydrogen. Even so, both the sucro-energetic industries in both India and Brazil are already developing technology to ensure the green hydrogen opportunity can be realized. | 8 | |
| 2025/4 | World Fuel Ethanol Outlook to 2035 | To analyze the fundamental drivers of global fuel ethanol markets and prepare projections of demand to 2035, with particular focus on evolving government policies, technological developments, and environmental considerations. | The global fuel ethanol market continues to evolve amid changing government mandates, new technological capabilities, and growing environmental pressures. This study will examine key trends including: the expansion ofethanol programs in developing markets; the impact of electric vehicle adoptionon long-term demand; emerging trade patterns; and the role of ethanol inmeeting carbon reduction goals. The analysis will provide country-levelprojections for major producers and consumers while exploring technologyadoption and policy implementation that could materially impact the sector'sgrowth trajectory. | 8 | |
| 2025/5 | Industrial and Direct Sugar Consumption - Global Trends and Outlook | To examine the evolving patterns of industrial versus direct sugar consumption across different regions and economic contexts, identifying key drivers and future trends that will shape demand patterns. | Building on the ISO's 2016 consumption structure analysis, this study will provide updated insights into how sugar usage patterns have shifted between industrial and direct consumption channels. Particular attention will be paid to: the impact of health-related policies on direct consumption; changing consumer preferences across diverse markets; innovation in the food processing sector; and the growing role of sugar alternatives in industrial applications. The analysis will include case studies from different regions and market contexts to provide insights into evolving consumption patterns. | 8 | |
| 2025/6 | Applications of sugar beet/cane based materials in the global bioeconomy | To explore applications of beet and cane materials, including byproducts, such as beet pulp, cane bagasse and molasses, and semi-finished products such as cane juice, beet thick juice and B-molasses or process effluent. | With little in-field processing completed when cane and beet are harvested, there are significant opportunities in the use of byproducts and residues from the processing stage. The options currently include animal feed, biochemicals and bioplastics production, and energy generation. | 8 | |
34th ISO International Seminar 2024
26 Nov 2024 - London
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