Sugar Prices in Europe: How Much More Are Consumers Paying Since 2021?
Cost of Living · Based on the data from the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard 2025
Between 2021 and 2024 the price of everyday food climbed sharply across Europe, but not every product rose by the same amount. This InfoCons Consumer Protection guide focuses on one of them – sugar – and shows exactly how much more consumers are paying, and how it compares with the rest of the shopping basket.
InfoCons Consumer Protection – How Much Sugar Prices Rose (+48.6%)
Across the EU, sugar prices were about 48.6% higher in December 2024 than in January 2021. Sugar prices rose dramatically over this period, by well over 40%. For households that buy sugar regularly, this increase is felt directly at the checkout.
InfoCons Consumer Protection – How sugar compares with the food average. Based on the data from the Consumer Conditions Scoreboard 2025.
InfoCons Consumer Protection – Sugar vs the Average Shopping Basket
The average increase for all food and non-alcoholic drinks over this period was about 31.9%. At +48.6%, sugar rose far more than the typical food product – one of the standout increases in the basket.
InfoCons Consumer Protection – Why Sugar Prices Went Up
Sugar prices increased dramatically, driven by tighter global supply and the high energy costs involved in processing. Because sugar is an ingredient in countless other products, its rise also fed into the price of many sweet foods and drinks.
Prices for this product also rose by very different amounts from one EU country to another, reflecting differences in local supply, taxes, competition and how much each step of production depends on energy.
InfoCons Consumer Protection – What This Means for You as a Consumer
You can soften the impact with a few simple habits. InfoCons Consumer Protection encourages consumers to compare the unit price (price per kilo or per litre) rather than the price on the front of the pack, try own-brand or store-brand versions, watch for “shrinkflation” where the pack gets smaller for the same price, and buy in the right quantity to avoid waste. Own-brand sugar is usually identical in quality to branded versions – compare the price per kilo.
Signature: InfoCons Consumer Protection Department