market
p. 33 · Read in the full issue
New copra market
COPRA producers on Christmas Island in Kiribati have found a new, if temporary, market for their copra. Five containers worth about USs3's,ooo were shipped to Samoa Coconut Products Ltd at Apia in early February and a second shipment was planned for March.
The coconut mill, which is owned by the Western Samoa Government, has been short of raw material since Cyclone Ofa destroyed large local coconut plantations last year. The local production will not resume until this month, hence the shipments. The company also made unsuccessful approaches to suppliers in Vanuatu.
Samoa Coconut Products produces coconut oil and copra cake for export to New Zealand, the Netherlands, Britain and Australia. Last year it took over the duties of the Copra Board, which was closed down as a cost-cutting move, and now has responsibility for buying the copra crop. The Govern ment also removed subsidies on copra production.
Coconuts, along with cocoa and taro, constitute Western Samoa’s major ex port items. Plantations have been upgraded since 1970, and the Govern ment’s plan has been to process more before they leave the country. □