The latest information on pearl farming in Tahiti.
28/05/2025
In the first quarter of 2025, French Polynesia recorded a significant increase in its local exports. According to data from the Institut de la Statistique en Polynésie Française - ISPF -, the value of exports rose by 23% compared with the same period in 2024, while civilian imports increased more modestly by 4%. This momentum was largely driven by the recovery in exports of raw cultured pearls.
Civilian imports reached 57 billion CFP francs during the first three months of the year. This growth was largely explained by household consumption. Imports intended for households increased by 13%, notably driven by the strong rise in automotive products, whose value increased by 39%, both in volume and in value.
All categories of goods intended for households showed an upward trend. Consumer goods increased by 8% in value and 7% in volume, while the agri-food industries also expanded their imports, with an increase of 8% in value and 6% in volume. Agricultural, forestry, and fishing products followed the same trend, rising by 5% in value and 3% in volume.
On the business side, the situation appeared more mixed. Imports of capital goods fell by 6% in value, while intermediate goods increased by 7% in value and 11% in volume. Some basic materials, such as hydraulic cement, nevertheless recorded a slight decline of 3% in value, with overall volumes remaining stable.
Another notable development was the sharp decrease in petroleum products. Their value fell by 18% and their volume by 4%, a direct consequence of lower prices. The average unit price now stands at 90 CFP francs per kilogram, representing a decrease of 15% compared with the first quarter of 2024.
On the export side, performance was largely driven by the pearl farming sector. Exports of raw cultured pearls increased sharply between the first quarter of 2024 and that of 2025. Their value rose by 47%, while export volumes doubled during the period.
However, this increase in volume was accompanied by a significant decline in the average price, which now stands at 726 CFP francs per gram, representing a drop of 23%.
Other export products also showed growth. Copra oil doubled in value and increased by 18% in volume, while noni recorded a rise of 45% both in value and in volume.
Conversely, some sectors experienced a decline. Fish exports decreased by 32% in value and 29% in volume. The average price fell slightly to 1,200 CFP francs per kilogram. The United States nevertheless remained the main market for these products, primarily in the form of fresh or chilled tuna.
Vanilla also recorded a decline, with exports down by 7% in value and 4% in volume. The average price now stands at 53,500 CFP francs per kilogram, representing a decrease of 3%. Finally, exports of mother-of-pearl fell by 45%, while monoï exports declined by 19%.