The number of ships loading sugar at Brazil's ports or preparing to load shortened again to 56 vessels, shipping agency SA Commodities/Unimar said, roughly half the number queuing a year earlier.

The queue of ships has been shrinking steadily after hitting a peak of 86 in early July and stood at 62 vessels a week ago.

This time last year, shipping agency Williams put the number of ships queued to load sugar around Brazil at 113, as importers short of the sweetener charged upon the world's top producer as it harvested.

Terminals have also been luckier to have drier weather this year as bulk loading is halted during the rain.

The loading schedule at Brazilian ports currently lists loads totaling 1.93 million tonnes, down from the 2.1 million tonnes listed a week earlier. (Reuters)