THE first sugar shipment this season is expected to rake in about $30 million to $35m, says Fiji Sugar Corporation executive chairman Abdul Khan.
Mr Khan said the ship, Four Turandot, arrived on Thursday night and headed for Malau Jetty in Labasa for the first load of sugar.
Last night, the ship was still at Malau Jetty being loaded by Fiji Sugar Corporation workers.
"The ship will load 20,000 tonnes of sugar from Malau and the remaining 13,000 tonnes will be loaded in Lautoka.
"The ship can load a total of 33,000 tonnes of sugar and we hope, if loading goes well in Labasa, the ship will leave for Lautoka this weekend.
"And if all goes well in Lautoka, then the ship should leave our shores by next week," Mr Khan said.
He said more sugar was loaded from Labasa because of the limited capacity available in the sugar bulk at Malau.
Mr Khan said a total of 26,000 tonnes of sugar was kept at the Labasa bulk of which 20,000 tonnes to be loaded this weekend.
"We need to leave space at the Malau bulk to stock up more sugar for the next shipment and that is why we have loaded more from Labasa for this shipment."
Mr Khan said a total of six sugar shipments are expected for export markets this season.
"The crushing season has been going very well so far and it is the same for all mills.
"For Labasa, they have been doing well also apart from minor breakdowns which caused shortages and that have all been sorted out now.
"The cane supply to all mills have also been consistent so farmers and the whole industry is doing well this harvesting season," the executive chairman said.