September 8, 2015
Sugaronline | http://goo.gl/l750lE
FIJI will export F$125 million (US$57 million) worth of sugar this year, says Fiji Sugar Corporation Executive Chairman Abdul Khan, according to the Fiji Times newspaer.
So far, the four mills have crushed about 400,000 tonnes of cane producing 48,000 tonnes of raw sugar.
"To date we have just made over 48,000 tonnes of raw sugar and we have sent two shipments already," Khan said.
"The first shipment was about 21,000 tonnes."
Khan said the value of this 21,000 tonnes stood at F$13 million.
"We expect to export about 180,000 tonnes at a total value of F$125 million," he said.
"But this does not take into account what we sell locally and to the Pacific region."
Khan said for the Labasa mill, the TC:TS was 8.33:1.
"That is, we only need 8.33 tonnes of sugar cane to make one tonne of sugar," he said.
Divisional Planning Officer North Alipate Bolalevu said the season had so far been successful.
"Despite the shortage of labourers that we faced in the beginning of the season, we have come out successful because everyone worked together," he said.
"The supply of cane to the mill has not been a problem and the performance of the mill has also been fantastic.
"The stakeholders are all playing their roles especially the farmers which is why the season has been a success so far.