SUGAR growth and raw sugar production have been very positive, giving the industry a positive growth economically.

This was highlighted by the Fiji Sugar Corporation chairman Abdul Khan during the 2015 Budget Forum in Suva on Saturday.

For industrial sector performance, Reserve Bank of Fiji’s governor Barry Whiteside highlighted that sugar production and cane production were generally positive.

Sugar production in 2013 was 16.2 per cent and the latest figure for this year shows 37.7 per cent in September 29, which exceeded the 2014 forecast of 10 per cent.

Cane production in 2013 was 4.1 per cent and increased to 23.7 per cent by September 29 this year.

“For the sugar industry in Fiji, most of its figures look very positive. The only negative or the down turn was the actual dollar when compared to early 2000,” Mr Khan said.

“Although the efficiency cane has been there and the increase has been there, it’s actually the reduction in price that affects the growth.

Over the past 12 months we have seen a further price reduction of 32 to 33 per cent so it has actually reflected in the actual dollar value itself.

“Our concern for the short-term is of cause the drought and we are seeing a bit of that at the end of this processing season and unless we get sufficient rain in the next month or so we will have a problem in the next season.”