Tahiti’s pearl farming sector, a cornerstone of the local economy, is facing an unprecedented crisis since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With commercial flights suspended, the industry has been paralyzed. The absence of Chinese grafting technicians, essential for oyster seeding, has severely slowed down production.
Sabine Lorillon, president of the Cultured Pearl Traders’ Union, warns of the gravity of the situation. The sector is in limbo: sales and purchases are frozen as foreign clients remain stranded abroad. When trade resumes, there are fears of a drastic price drop, potentially driving pearl values far below the current 500-600 Fcfp per pearl.
While high-quality pearls retain their luster, professionals fear mounting pressure from buyers to slash prices, which could devalue accumulated farm inventories. Thomas Esen, head of Rikitea’s Pearl Farming Management Committee, notes this crisis may accelerate the closure of many pearl farms that were already struggling pre-pandemic.
The lockdown of Chinese grafters has halted production progress. Only basic oyster maintenance tasks can currently be performed. With no pearl sales possible, some farmers have been forced to cut employee wages, worsening an already precarious economic situation.
Amid this uncertainty, industry professionals have zero visibility for the coming months. They also worry that territorial quarantine measures may deter foreign buyers. Sabine Lorillon concludes that while the sector won’t disappear, recovery will be slow – and Tahitian pearls may lose their premium positioning in the global market.
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