Fijian exporters remain confident about their prospects in international markets, but a sharp rise in difficulties accessing finance threatens to constrain their ability to turn that optimism into growth.
Fiji’s export sector is showing considerable confidence about the year ahead, with 72 per cent of exporters expecting their international revenues to increase over the next 12 months.
The finding comes from the Pacific Islands Export Survey 2026 Fiji Spotlight and suggests businesses are increasingly looking beyond Fiji’s domestic market for growth. the report was put together by Australia Fiji Business Council Member Pacific Trade Invest Australia.
The survey found that Fijian exporters recorded a net export revenue growth balance of +22 over the past year, slightly higher than the Pacific regional average.
PTI Australia Trade Commissioner Tim Martin.
Pacific Trade Invest Australia Trade Commissioner Tim Martin said the results showed encouraging signs of growing international competitiveness among Fiji businesses.
“Fijian exporters continue to show confidence in their international prospects, with 72 per cent expecting export revenue to increase over the coming year,” Martin said.
He said businesses were increasingly making use of trade agreements and new technologies to compete internationally.
But the survey also revealed a growing obstacle: finance.
Some 67 per cent of Fiji exporters surveyed said they were having difficulty accessing finance, compared with 49 per cent in 2024. That increase potentially limits the ability of businesses to invest in equipment, increase production, meet certification requirements or fund working capital needed to fulfil larger export orders.
Investment Fiji Chief Executive Kamal Chetty said the findings demonstrated both the resilience of Fiji’s exporters and the pressures they continue to face.
He said the results would help guide efforts to improve exporter support, develop new financing pathways and connect Fiji businesses with high-growth markets.
The financing issue has broader implications as Fiji seeks to increase exports and diversify its economy beyond its traditional strengths.
For smaller exporters in agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and services, winning an overseas buyer is only one part of the challenge. Businesses must also have sufficient capital to scale production and maintain supply.
The survey suggests that demand and confidence are present. Improving access to affordable capital may now be one of the more important steps in converting Fiji’s export ambitions into sustained business growth.
