kava exports

Australia is three-quarters of the way through its trial of allowing the commercial importation of kava.

Figures from last October showed 147 tonnes of kava had arrived in Australia, with 70 tonnes from Tonga and 44 tonnes from Fiji.

Vanuatu came in third with just under 20 tonnes.

However, earlier this month a trade delegation from Vanuatu visited Brisbane to look at ways to boost the country's exports.

Pacific kava exporters and farmers showcased this growth potential at the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry (PWAF) taking place from 6-10 March in Nadi, Fiji.

The CEO of the Vanuatu Primary Producers Authority Timothy Tumukon indicated on local media that Vanuatu would be better off exporting directly to Australia where it could value-add to its product.

"Export to Australia and not Fiji where they add value, give you peanuts and take the cream of the cake," Tumukon told the Vanuatu Television and Broadcasting Corporation.

He said Vanuatu was concerned that its produce was being mixed with Fiji kava and exported as a Fijian product.

“It’s time to stop exporting dry kava to Fiji.’’

According to the famers, the closure of borders and high export freight rates have hit export levels.

Kava farmers and exporters have identified issues and are adopting with the situation such as Air Vanuatu regular flights to New Caledonia and Fiji Airways flights to United States via Fiji.

“Sea freight was more popular for kava export as the freight is much cheaper than air freight,” said Michael Louze, a kava exporter and the Chairman of Vanuatu Kava Industry Working Group.

However, new statistics show businesses in Vanuatu are more confident that they will survive compared to businesses in other Pacific countries. 

A VBTC news report said experts are hopeful for kava exports. 

The Trade Development Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce and Ni-Vanuatu Business, Andrea Ibba said, ‘This is a really horrible situation to have both disasters. COVID-19 has killed demand and accessibility to international market while TC Harold has killed supplies. So it’s a very difficult situation for Vanuatu.”