Fiji’s sugar industry is facing significant challenges as it reported its highest Tonnes of Cane to Tonnes of Sugar (TCTS) ratio in nearly a decade, raising alarms over milling efficiency and the quality of sugarcane. According to the latest data released by the Reserve Bank of Fiji, the TCTS ratio surged to approximately 13 in 2025, the highest level recorded since 2017, when it averaged around 9. This alarming ratio indicates that Fiji Sugar Corporation mills required 13 tonnes of cane to produce just one tonne of sugar.
The TCTS ratio is a critical measure of production efficiency in the sugar industry. A higher TCTS typically signifies lower sugar extraction rates from harvested cane, attributable to issues such as delayed harvesting, declining cane quality, or inefficiencies in the milling process.
Compounding these concerns, sugarcane production appears to be on a downward trend, with only about 1.45 million tonnes harvested in 2025. This is significantly lower than the nearly 1.8 million tonnes recorded in 2019. Correspondingly, sugar output has decreased over the years, plummeting to around 110,000 tonnes in 2025 from approximately 180,000 tonnes in 2017.
This decline in production has further impacted export earnings from the sugar sector, with figures fluctuating in line with the changing production levels. Despite the recent challenges, there is potential for improvement. Focused efforts on enhancing cane quality, optimizing milling operations, and timely harvesting could play a pivotal role in revitalizing Fiji’s sugar industry, offering hope for a turnaround in the near future.