A sharp turnaround in mill operations delivered a big win for Fiji’s sugar industry, with sugar production surging by 15.6 per cent as of late August this year.
The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) had revealed the sector’s positive trajectory in its August economic review, highlighting a major leap in output that directly affects the livelihoods of thousands of farming families across the Western and Northern divisions.
While the actual volume of cane crushed rose by a modest 2.8 per cent, the total volume of sugar extracted climbed significantly higher.
“Compared with the same period last year, both cane crushed and sugar production rose by 2.8 per cent and 15.6 per cent, respectively, as at August 24, attributed to improved operational performance across all mills and higher sugar extraction rates,” the central bank stated.
The RBF stated other sectoral performances were also generally positive during the review period.
Electricity production, it stated expanded by 4.8 per cent in the year to July, led by growth in Energy Fiji Ltd’s customer base (1.7 per cent) and higher non-renewable energy generation, which more than offset lower renewable energy output resulting from adverse weather conditions.
Over the same period, total gold production also increased by 6.2 per cent, as strong growth in gold concentrate output (58.8 per cent) more than compensated for the decline in gold doré production (-21.8 per cent).
Similarly, mineral water output expanded by 4.2 per cent cumulative to July, consistent with scheduled manufacturing plans and a recovery from the softer output in the corresponding period of 2025 following tariff-related disruptions.
“In contrast, performance in the forestry sector was weaker as mahogany logs (-25.9 per cent), woodchips (-11.2 per cent), and sawn timber (-47.2 per cent) production fell, largely impacted by unfavourable weather conditions,” the central bank stated.
However, it noted pinewood output grew by 3.4 per cent, supported by a higher supply of sawlogs.
Sugar cane trucks line up outside the FSC Rarawai mill in Ba.
Picture: REINAL CHAND
