Fiji’s sugar industry has recorded its highest Tonnes of Cane to Tonnes of Sugar (TCTS) ratio in nine years, raising concerns about milling efficiency and cane quality.
Latest sector data released by the Reserve Bank of Fiji shows the TCTS ratio climbed to about 13 in 2025, the highest level since 2017 when the ratio stood at around 9.
A TCTS of 13 means Fiji Sugar Corporation mills needed 13 tonnes of cane to make one tonne of sugar.
The TCTS ratio is a key indicator of sugar production efficiency. A higher ratio generally suggests lower sugar extraction from harvested cane, which can be linked to factors such as delayed harvesting, deteriorating cane quality or inefficiencies during the milling process.
At the same time, cane production remains below earlier peaks, with around 1.45 million tonnes harvested in 2025, compared with nearly 1.8 million tonnes in 2019.
Sugar output has also declined over the years, dropping to approximately 110,000 tonnes in 2025, down from around 180,000 tonnes in 2017.
Export earnings from sugar have also fluctuated during the period, reflecting the changes in production levels.
