Agriculture Export Volumes
June 2017
Released on 6 September 2017 | Download the complete release | 
156 KB
| Jun 17 |
May 17 |
Apr 17 |
Mar 17 |
|
| Total volumes (tonnes) |
751.3 | 800.4 | 537.5 | 583.1 |
No watermelon exports drove agricultural exports lower
The total agricultural exports declined by 49.0 tonnes (6.1%) over the month largely attributed to no watermelon exports during the month compared to the 93.0 tonnes exported in the previous month. However, the favourable root crops harvest season continued, particularly for yam, sweet yam, and giant taro. The export of these crops rose by 49.6 tonnes (8.7%) which outweighed the decline in the export of swamp taro, taro tarua, cassava, and sweet potato. Exported green-drinking coconuts also increased over the month.
During the month, exported commodities decreased due to the seasonality of local produce such as watermelon, breadfruit, kava powder, plantain, brown coconuts, pele leaves, and chestnut.
The agricultural export proceeds received slightly rose by $0.1 million (21.1%) to $0.6 million as export proceeds for both root crops and kava increased in June 2017. The proceeds for the export of root crops amounted to $0.3 million. This was followed by kava export receipts of $0.2 million, reflecting the increase in the price of kava-Tonga last month and lagged effects of receipt of export proceeds, as most of the kava were exported to the United States.
Over the year, the total agricultural export volume rose by 2,875.9 tonnes (33.0%), supported by better harvest of root crops, the favourable squash, watermelon, and breadfruit season. These offset the decline in the export of kava-Tonga, coconuts, sandalwood, vanilla, onion, and mulberry juice over the year. The continuous support from the Government’s development loan scheme also supported the growth in the agricultural sector, with a rise of $2.4 million (27.5%) growth in loans to the agricultural sector. The annual agricultural export receipts also rose by $4.7 million (76.1%) to $10.9 million. The higher export receipts were for squash and crops (root crops and traditional crops), supported by the strengthening of the Japanese Yen and US dollar against the Tongan Pa’anga.
On the outlook, the Reserve Bank anticipates that the volume of exports will continue to increase in the near term supporting the expected growth in the agricultural sector. The year 2016/17 has seen better weather conditions than that of the previous years which will likely have favourable effects on the agricultural sector’s 2017/18 growth. On the downside, the export of Kava Tonga will continue to decline due to its low supply as a result of the drought in 2015 which also affected the kava rootstock.
Agriculture Export Volumes Releases
Agriculture Export Volumes Releases for 2017
|
June Released on 6 September 2017 | 156 KB |
|
May Released on 3 August 2017 | 157 KB |
|
April Released on 30 June 2017 | 155 KB |
|
March Released on 16 June 2017 | 119 KB |
|
February Released on 15 June 2017 | 159 KB |
|
January Released on 15 June 2017 | 120 KB |
2016
|
December Released on 9 June 2017 | 120 KB |
|
November Released on 4 April 2017 | 394 KB |
|
October Released on 4 April 2017 | 357 KB |
|
September Released on 9 January 2017 | 362 KB |
|
August Released on 11 November 2016 | 375 KB |
|
July Released on 31 October 2016 | 425 KB |
|
June Released on 5 September 2016 | 389 KB |
|
May Released on 25 July 2016 | 422 KB |
|
April Released on 30 June 2016 | 452 KB |
|
March Released on 3 June 2016 | 488 KB |
|
February Released on 29 April 2016 | 483 KB |
|
January Released on 8 April 2016 | 433 KB |
2015
|
December Released on 25 February 2016 | 607 KB |
|
November Released on 23 December 2015 | 179 KB |
|
October Released on 23 December 2015 | 179 KB |
|
September Released on 2 December 2015 | 359 KB |
|
August Released on 8 October 2015 | 358 KB |
|
July Released on 21 September 2015 | 358 KB |
|
June Released on 1 September 2015 | 462 KB |
|
May Released on 27 July 2016 | 462 KB |
|
April Released on 26 May 2015 | 469 KB |
|
March Released on 13 May 2015 | 469 KB |
|
February Released on 30 March 2015 | 469 KB |
|
January Released on 4 March 2015 | 471 KB |
ECONOMIC RELEASES