Polynesia’s pearl industry, an economic pillar of the archipelago, shows encouraging signs of recovery after several difficult years.
According to the latest figures from French Polynesia’s Statistical Institute (ISPF), pearl export revenues increased by 12% in 2014, reaching 8.8 billion CFP francs, marking a second consecutive year of growth.
This improvement also shows in a 6% increase in export volumes, reversing three years of continuous decline. The average export price per pearl now stands at 1,030 CFP francs (+1.5% compared to 2013), while the price per gram shows a more significant increase of 6%, reaching 600 CFP francs.
However, these positive results mask a more nuanced reality. The ISPF notes that “revenue levels remain low compared to the sector’s true potential” and that “the supply-demand imbalance still favors demand.” The current unit price doesn’t reflect the luxury image associated with Tahitian black pearls, French Polynesia’s second-largest domestic resource after tourism.
“We eagerly await the new law on pearl products, originally scheduled for late 2015 and currently on hold,” laments Aline Baldassari, President of the Tahitian Pearl Association of French Polynesia (TPAFP). She stresses the urgent need for regulatory reform, particularly to count pearls when they leave the water rather than only at export, to obtain statistics that better reflect actual production.
In 2014, raw cultured pearl production extended across 25 Polynesian islands, with 561 maritime concessions, including 435 in the Tuamotu Archipelago. This complex artisanal activity, which requires two years of training to become a grafter, represents unique expertise—the world’s only grafting school is located in Rangiroa.
While the sector’s economic recovery is underway, professionals now await updated regulations to consolidate this momentum and restore Tahitian black pearls’ full value in international markets.
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