Higher premiums are being offered for Fiji’s sugar from traditional markets in the European Un­ion, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This followed the sales and marketing efforts carried out by the Fiji Sugar Corporation and the good news has come at a time when the world sugar price is not good.

The demand for Fiji’s sugar from the UK and EU markets comes after receiving a 30 per­cent drop in supplies from other suppliers.

Fiji Sugar Corporation chief executive officer, Graham Clark said it was pleasing to note that the company’s sales and mar­keting efforts this year were well advanced.

He said FSC was expected to produce around 180,000 tonnes of sugar this season and has al­ready contracted 140,000 tonnes of sugar for 2019.

“We have started to receive re­suscitated interest with higher premiums from our traditional markets namely, the European Union, United Kingdom and the United States of America, which is fantastic news for FSC.

” Already 20,000 tonnes of sug­ar has so far been earmarked for global Fairtrade accredita­tion.

“The first shipment is expected to depart in late July this year.”

Proceeds from sugar sold un­der Fair Trade is directed to the cane farmers and Mr Clark said this was expected to be around USD$1.2 million.

“Further sales will be made as production forecasts material­ise.

“There has been an encourag­ing response to new packaging for 1kg, 2kg and 4kg – sugar dis­tributed within the local mar­ket.

“Our local sales in this catego­ry are up by 17 per cent from the same period to last year.

“FSC has also seen a return of demand from the Pacific Is­lands and new orders are being processed.

“In July, we will launch our retail packs in the New Zealand market”, Clark adds further.

“Hopefully this will further in­crease exports to these markets in 2019,” Mr Clark said.

Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj