The total value of exports in the March 2022 quarter increased 14.2 percent (or $2.7 million) to $22.0 million over the same quarter last year. In comparison with the December 2021 quarter, the value of exports also increased by 8.6 percent.
Largely responsible for the increase were higher values of fats and oils (coconut oil) and tobacco exports to mention a few.
This is outlined in the Samoa Bureau of Statistics’ latest report released.
Total exports in the four quarters ending March 2022 decreased 18.8 percent when compared to the four quarters ending March 2021.
In terms of merchandise exports by country, the USA had the largest share of 34.1 percent ($7.5 million) of total merchandise export value in the March 2022 quarter. This value was $5.1 million and $3.5 million higher than the March 2021 quarter and December 2021 quarters respectively. Exports to New Zealand followed with a share of 17.7 percent ($3.9 million) of total merchandise export value.
“This was 11.3 percent higher when compared to March 2021 but 19.3 percent lower than its value in the December 2021 quarter. Exports to American Samoa recorded a total share of 13.5 percent ($3.0 million), decreasing 44.9 percent and 16.1 percent when compared to the same quarter last year and the previous quarter respectively.
“Exports to Tokelau stood at $2.6 million (12.1 percent share of total merchandise exports value), increasing 95.2 percent and 64.2 percent over the corresponding quarter last year and the previous quarter in that order.
“Exports to Australia accounted for 6.0 percent share of total merchandise exports value ($1.3 million), decreasing 24.0 percent and 37.3 percent when compared to the March 2021 quarter and December 2021 quarter respectively.
All ‘other countries’ of destination accounted for less than 3.0 percent share each of total merchandise exports value having a combined share of 16.5 percent.”
