The Reserve Bank of Fiji’s Economic Review for August 2025 shows a mixed bag of sectoral performances, with some industries recording solid gains while others faltered.
The sugar industry, which began the harvesting season on a positive note, recorded declines as of August 18. Cane production fell by 2.6 percent and sugar output dropped by 8.5 percent, largely attributed to low and poor-quality cane supply.
Similarly, mineral water production dipped by 0.4 percent cumulative to July. The decline was linked to scheduled maintenance at a major production plant in April and weaker demand from key international markets.
In contrast, the forestry sector was a standout performer. Timber production rose sharply across all components in the year to July. Woodchip output increased by 9.7 percent, sawn timber surged by 26.0 percent, and mahogany production more than doubled, registering a 101.3 percent increase.
Electricity generation posted a marginal increase of 0.04 percent, reflecting higher usage from newly connected households and industrial consumers.
Meanwhile, gold ore production declined by 24.3 percent over the same period. However, the RBF highlighted renewed optimism in the sector due to diversification efforts. Vatukoula Gold Mines Limited produced 6,410 ounces of gold concentrates as part of its new focus, signalling potential future gains.
