The Lautoka sugar mill is currently the lowest performing factory for the Fiji Sugar Corporation in the 2024 season, with a tonnes cane to tonnes sugar (TCTS) ratio of 13.0. This means that the Lautoka mill requires 13 tonnes of cane to produce one tonne of sugar.
In comparison, the Labasa Mill has a TCTS ratio of 10.1, while the Rarawai Mill stands at 11.2. Bhan Singh, CEO of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, acknowledged that the organization has encountered significant difficulties this season due to adverse weather conditions, particularly the prolonged drought linked to the El Niño phenomenon.
Singh noted that there have been no significant improvements in cane quality compared to previous seasons. He reported that the amount of burnt cane processed at the Viti Levu mills has been unusually high, with over 50 percent of the cane supplied in the early part of the crushing season being burnt.
Additionally, Singh indicated that the amount of debris found in the cane has also been at an alarming level. Both Rarawai and Lautoka mills experienced some mechanical issues early in the season, but maintenance teams have since addressed these problems, and operations have returned to normal.
The Labasa Mill has performed exceptionally well this season with minimal plant failures, with most interruptions linked to poor cane supply.