This surge is mainly explained by the rise in raw pearl sales and, to a lesser extent, by the strong performance of fish exports. Since the beginning of 2014, pearl exports have risen by 7% in value, supported by a 14% increase in the price per gram, despite a 14% decrease in volume compared to the previous year.

July 2014 was an exceptional month for the pearl industry, driven by a historic auction that reached levels not seen since 2009. The value of orders doubled between July 2013 and July 2014, contributing to a cumulative 23% increase over the first seven months of the year.

The fishing sector also performed well, with a 41% growth in the value of fish exports in July 2014 compared to the previous year, supported by a 47% increase in volume. However, this temporary improvement was not enough to offset the 4% decline recorded since January, mainly due to a 10% drop in the average price per kilo.

Among other export products, copra oil benefited from a double increase in July — price per kilo (+67%) and volume (+16%). Despite this, cumulative exports since January show a 3% decline in value, reflecting a 35% drop in volume. As for noni puree, while July saw a rebound, overall exports since the beginning of the year show an 18% decrease.

These results reflect an encouraging trend for certain key sectors of the Polynesian economy, led by the Tahitian pearl — the true jewel of the territory’s foreign trade.