FSC Labasa Mill crushes 583,612 tonnes in 2025

The Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) says the Labasa Mill has recorded a higher cane crush this year despite repeated weather disruptions and a season that had to be extended by almost seven weeks.

Labasa crushed 583,612 tonnes of cane in 2025, up from 575,068 tonnes last year — an increase achieved largely because FSC kept the mill operating well past the original closure date to give growers more time to harvest.

The mill officially ended its season on Monday, 8 December, after opening on 17 June and operating for 24.8 calendar weeks.

The season had been budgeted for 19 weeks with a planned closure of 21 October, but FSC approved multiple extensions to support growers impacted by wet weather and labour shortages.

Even after the Sugar Industry Tribunal set 30 November as the closure date, FSC kept the mill open for an additional week to maximise cane intake.

FSC said the season was marked by prolonged rainfall, which repeatedly halted harvesting and caused 1,067 hours (44.5 days) of outside stops.

Burnt cane accounted for 45 per cent of the supply, similar to the 44 per cent recorded last year. Lorry deliveries continued to dominate, making up 93 per cent of total intake.

The Corporation said the higher crush reflects growers’ determination to harvest as much cane as possible despite disruptions.

This year’s later-than-usual closure follows earlier finishes in 2023 and 2024, both of which closed on 11 November. FSC said the 2025 extensions were necessary to maintain steady operations and ensure growers were not disadvantaged.

The Corporation acknowledged the support of growers, harvesting gangs, transport operators and industry partners throughout the season, saying it remains focused on improving harvesting performance, supply consistency and long-term industry sustainability.