After a difficult period, French Polynesia’s pearl industry is experiencing a revival, particularly on the atolls of Arutua and Rikitea. Arutua, with its 80 pearl farmers, stands out as one of the areas where production is regaining momentum. Among these producers, Steve Pommier, a seasoned pearl farmer with over 20 years of experience, distinguishes himself through impressive results.
At his pearl farm in Arutua, Steve Pommier and his team of 30 employees produce nearly 300,000 pearls annually. This success is all the more remarkable given the sector’s struggles in recent years. “Things have been improving over the past two years,” he says, highlighting the progress made despite past hardships.
The pearl industry faced a deep crisis starting in 2008, marked by declining international demand and falling prices. Compounding these challenges were nacre supply issues, particularly on Takaroa atoll, which weighed heavily on production. However, since 2016, the situation has shown signs of recovery, with a slight increase in cultivated areas and the number of producers.
Steve Pommier notes that he doesn’t just produce high-quality pearls but also generates “off-grade” pearls that, while not meeting the strictest criteria, still find their place in the market. Currently, about 70% of his production is exported, primarily to Japan and China, the main players in the global pearl market. With demand outpacing supply, pearl prices have risen, creating new opportunities for producers.
Steve Pommier’s pearls now sell for 800 francs per gram, or about 1,200 francs per pearl. This price reflects an increase over the past year and a half, signaling market improvement. To attract foreign buyers, quality work remains essential. Grafting, which accounts for roughly 50% of the production process, is a critical step, and Steve emphasizes the importance of training skilled grafters to ensure high-quality output.
“We train our own grafters. In the past, we trained eight locals, but only one still works at our farm. The others returned to Papeete. You have to really want to live in the Tuamotus to pursue this career. So we’ve hired Chinese grafters—they’re tougher and more reliable,” he explains.
Today, Steve Pommier considers Rikitea and Arutua—with its 80 producers—to be the two largest pearl-producing areas in French Polynesia. This positive trend points to a promising future for the local pearl industry.
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