The first sugar shipment for the 2009 season has been shipped off on Friday.

Fiji Sugar Corporation Limited Chief Executive Officer Deo Saran said the total value for the cargo is $32 million dollars, payment of which is expected to be paid early next week.

Saran said the bulk carrier MV "Genco Charger", sailed out of Lautoka on Friday with a cargo of twenty seven thousand four hundred eighteen metric tonnes of sugar, destined for the Tate and Lyle Refinery in London.

Saran adds despite the difficult start to the 2009 season as a result of the flooding early in the year and commissioning issues, faced on the new equipments installed under the mill upgrade program, he is pleased to see that the first sugar shipment has been made in line with the shipment schedule agreed to with our sugar buyer.