ICUMSA Full Form & What ICUMSA 45 Means
ICUMSA full form is the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis — an international body that sets the standard measurement methods for sugar quality worldwide. The ICUMSA number (also called the ICUMSA color value) measures the whiteness/purity of refined sugar using a spectrophotometric method at 420 nm wavelength, expressed in IU (ICUMSA units). ICUMSA 45 refers to refined white sugar with a color rating of maximum 45 IU on the ICUMSA scale. It represents the highest quality grade of refined cane sugar — the standard for premium retail, food and beverage manufacturing, and pharmaceutical applications worldwide. The lower the ICUMSA number, the purer and whiter the sugar. ICUMSA 45 is colloquially called "sparkling white sugar" because of its brilliant clarity and crystalline appearance.
ICUMSA 45 Sugar Specifications
Our ICUMSA 45 refined white sugar meets and exceeds all international quality standards:
- ✓Color: Maximum 45 IU (typical 30-40 IU)
- ✓Polarization: Minimum 99.80°Z
- ✓Moisture: Maximum 0.04%
- ✓Ash content: Maximum 0.04%
- ✓Reducing sugars: Maximum 0.04%
- ✓Solubility: Free of insoluble matter
- ✓SO2: Maximum 20 ppm
- ✓Granulation: Fine to medium crystals (0.4-1.0 mm)
- ✓Heavy metals: Within Codex Alimentarius limits
Common Applications for ICUMSA 45 Sugar
ICUMSA 45 is the workhorse of the global premium sugar trade. Its high purity and consistent quality make it suitable for virtually all food and beverage applications:
- ✓Beverage manufacturing — soft drinks, juices, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages
- ✓Confectionery — candies, chocolates, gum, hard candies
- ✓Bakery — bread, cakes, cookies, pastries, muffins
- ✓Dairy — ice cream, condensed milk, flavored milk, yogurt
- ✓Pharmaceutical — syrups, tablets, coatings
- ✓Retail — premium table sugar, sachets, sticks
- ✓Food service — restaurants, hotels, catering
- ✓Industrial canning — fruits, jams, preserves
Packaging Options
We offer flexible packaging options to suit retail, food service, industrial, and bulk requirements:
- ✓1 kg, 2 kg, 5 kg retail bags (PP or paper, custom or private label)
- ✓10 kg, 25 kg industrial bags (PP woven with PE liner)
- ✓50 kg export sacks (PP woven, the most common export format)
- ✓1 MT (1000 kg) jumbo bags / FIBC for bulk handling
- ✓Bulk container loose loading for refining customers
- ✓Bulk vessel shipment (5,000 MT minimum)
- ✓Private label and OEM packaging available
ICUMSA 45 vs Other Sugar Grades
Understanding the ICUMSA color scale helps you select the right grade for your application. Lower color numbers mean whiter, more refined sugar.
- ✓ICUMSA 45 — Premium refined white (retail, food manufacturing) — our specialty
- ✓ICUMSA 100 — High-grade white (food service, baking)
- ✓ICUMSA 150 — Standard white (general food use)
- ✓ICUMSA 600-1200 — Raw sugar (industrial refining, food manufacturing)
- ✓ICUMSA 1500+ — Brown sugar (specialty applications)
ICUMSA Color Scale & Sugar Grades — Complete Comparison
The ICUMSA color scale is the global standard for measuring sugar purity, established by the International Commission for Uniform Methods of Sugar Analysis. Color is measured at 420 nm wavelength in IU (ICUMSA units) — lower values indicate a whiter, purer product. Below are the five principal commercial ICUMSA grades exported from Thailand, with key specifications and typical uses. For most food and beverage manufacturers requiring white sugar in their product labeling, ICUMSA 45 is the required specification. Buyers sourcing sugar for further refining typically purchase ICUMSA 600–1200 raw sugar at significant cost savings. Contact our export team to confirm the right grade for your application.
- ✓ICUMSA 45 — Color ≤45 IU · Polarization ≥99.80°Z · Sparkling white · Retail, premium food & beverage, pharmaceutical · FOB $500–$580/MT
- ✓ICUMSA 100 — Color ≤100 IU · Polarization ≥99.70°Z · White · Food service, industrial baking, confectionery · FOB $470–$540/MT
- ✓ICUMSA 600 — Color ≤600 IU · Polarization ≥99.50°Z · Off-white/cream · Refinery feedstock, fermentation, industrial processing · FOB $420–$480/MT
- ✓ICUMSA 1200 — Color ≤1200 IU · Polarization ≥98.00°Z · Light amber · Industrial processing, raw sugar for refining · FOB $380–$440/MT
- ✓ICUMSA 2000 — Color ≤2000 IU · Polarization ≥96.00°Z · Amber/dark · Specialty, molasses blends, ethanol production · FOB $340–$400/MT
Export Pricing Guide
FOB Laem Chabang pricing — contact us for current quotations.
| Grade | Price Range | Details |
|---|---|---|
| ICUMSA 45 (50kg PP bags) | $520-$580/MT | Standard export format, retail/food service |
| ICUMSA 45 (1 MT jumbo) | $500-$560/MT | Industrial bulk packaging |
| ICUMSA 45 (25kg bags) | $540-$600/MT | Smaller bag size for redistribution |
| ICUMSA 45 (Retail packs) | $650-$850/MT | 1kg-5kg with private label option |
| Bulk vessel ICUMSA 45 | $480-$540/MT | 5,000+ MT minimum, no packaging |