The Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) has spent more than $18 million on machinery and maintenance across its mills over the past two years, with the Lautoka sugar mill receiving a substantial share of the investment, reports The Fiji Times.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 sugar cane crushing season, Sugar Industry Minister Charan Jeath Singh highlighted Lautoka mill’s central role in FSC’s operations.
“Lautoka remains at the heart of our sugar industry, playing a vital role in both production and logistics,” Mr Singh said.
During the 2024 crushing season, the Lautoka mill processed 368,260 tonnes of sugarcane. This resulted in 31,403 tonnes of sugar and 18,403 tonnes of molasses.
Mr Singh said a large part of the recent $18 million investment was directed towards Lautoka, focusing on machinery upgrades and preventative maintenance.
“These upgrades have already begun to show positive results by increasing the mill’s reliability, reducing breakdowns, and improving sugar recovery,” he noted.
In addition to processing, the Lautoka mill serves as FSC’s key logistics hub. Sugar for both domestic use and export is shipped from the Lautoka port. The mill also houses the corporation’s Central Procurement Division, which manages the supply of critical materials for all FSC mills across the country.
