Mills continue to crush below capacity

[posted 28 Sept 2011,1530]

Three months into the crushing season, the Fiji Sugar Corporation has produced 85,500 tonnes of sugar from 1.2 million tonnes of cane delivered to the mills.

This gives a TCTS close to 14 (13.95) at peak season, higher than the average TCTS at this time last year, showing that the mills are still not performing at satisfactory levels this late into the season.

The concern is that as the industry approaches the hot and wet season, the TCTS is going to decline further, not improve.

According to industry sources the four mills had crushed 1,192,477 tonnes of cane to produce 85,500 tonnes of sugar by 26 September.

All the mills are crushing below capacity.

LR Vayeshnoi