Total exports for first quarter 2025 surpass $84 million, reported boost for rural economy
BY CHRIS ALEX
Total exports and revenue for both cocoa and coconut products for the first quarter of 2025 have jumped by huge margins compared to statistics of the first quarter of 2024.
Together cocoa and coconut/copra raked in $84.7 million, compared to $28.1 million in the first quarter of 2024.
The Government Communication Unit (GCU) in its statement on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 said the Commodities Export Marketing Authority (CEMA) announced the robust export performance for coconut and cocoa products in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting renewed momentum in the rural economy.
Key highlights include:
- Copra exports: 2,910.77 metric tonnes at an average price of USD 856 per tonne, generating SBD 19.9 million.
- Coconut oil exports: 1,369 metric tonnes at an average price of USD 1,394 per tonne, contributing SBD 16 million.
- Copra meal exports: 650 metric tonnes, valued at SBD 920,279.
The total value of coconut product exports reached SBD 36.9 million, a significant 61.8 percent increase from SBD 22.8 million in Q1 2024.
For cocoa, the country exported 714.95 metric tonnes of dried cocoa beans at an average price of GBP 6,326 per tonne, earning SBD 47.8 million, the GCU statement said.
Major export destinations included Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, with Malaysia being the largest buyer.
This performance represents a remarkable increase in export volume and value, with cocoa exports rising from 188 metric tonnes (SBD 5.3 million) in Q1 2024 to 714.95 metric tonnes (SBD 47.8 million) in Q1 2025.
CEMA highlights the organisation’s commitment to increasing value-added processing, expanding market access, and delivering benefits to rural farmers and producers, the GCU statement said.
“These results are a clear sign that the Solomon Islands’ agricultural export sector is gaining strength,” CEMA said.
CEMA acknowledges the efforts of local producers, exporters, and stakeholders and remains committed to strengthening the commodity sector through transparency, fair pricing, and market expansion.
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