Primary sugar crops market in Fiji

Earlier Report Observations

Production of primary sugar crops in Fiji increased to 1 806 thousand tonnes in 2019 following the government's 2018/19 Sugar Development Programme, which allocated $15.4 million for cane planting assistance and soil improvement. However, structural challenges such as labor shortages, high production costs, and capacity constraints from a failed mill upgrade limited further growth, leading to a slight decline to 1 726 thousand tonnes in 2020 exacerbated by quality issues with the dominant Mana cane variety.

A sharp drop to 1 417 thousand tonnes occurred in 2021 due to extreme weather conditions, where increased annual rainfall caused waterlogging, soil fertility decline, and harvesting difficulties, significantly reducing yields. The market recovered to 1 639 thousand tonnes in 2022 as tightening global sugar markets and rising export prices stimulated production efforts, despite ongoing climate-related threats.

In 2023, production decreased again to 1 566 thousand tonnes as prolonged drought conditions linked to El Niño affected crop yields. The industry continued adapting through increased mechanical harvesting, reaching 44.5% by 2024, in response to persistent labor shortages, but climate variability remained a primary driver of market volume fluctuations.

Production primary sugar crops in Fiji

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

World map of production of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Fiji's production of primary sugar crops saw a two-year increase before declining. In 2019, production reached its peak at 1 806 thousand tonnes, but then fell by 4.4% to 1 726 thousand tonnes in 2020. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, production grew by 5.8%, with an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. The most significant year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, when production rose by 6.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Fiji in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports primary sugar crops from Fiji

Exports in kind, kg

Export volumes of primary sugar crops from Fiji showed considerable volatility during this period. In 2019, exports peaked at 4 310 kilograms, but then plummeted by 85.6% to just 619 kilograms in 2020. This represents a sevenfold difference between the high in 2019 and the low in 2020. The most dramatic year-on-year increase was recorded in 2019, when exports surged by 103.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Fiji in kind, 2017-2020, kg

From 2017 to 2020, New Zealand dominated Fiji's exports of primary sugar crops in physical terms, accounting for 98.5% of all shipments.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Fiji in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, $ US

The value of Fiji's primary sugar crop exports exhibited significant fluctuations. In 2018, export value hit its lowest point at 563 US dollars, then soared to 3 339 US dollars in 2019, before dropping to 610 US dollars in 2020. This represents a 5.9-fold variation between the 2018 low and 2019 high. The 2020 figure marked an 81.7% decline from the previous year. The most substantial year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, when export value jumped by 492.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Fiji in value, 2017-2020, $ US

During the 2017-2020 period, New Zealand was virtually the sole destination for Fiji's primary sugar crop exports in value terms, capturing 99.5% of the total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Fiji in value, 2017-2020

Imports primary sugar crops to Fiji

Market analysis indicates that Fiji did not import any primary sugar crops between 2017 and 2020.