19 Jun 2008

Fiji's CIDA urges copra producers to take advantage of high increase

10:16 am on 19 June 2008

Fiji's Coconut Industry Development Authority is urging copra producers to take advantage of the high increase which sits at 565 US dollars per tonne.

CIDA regulatory manager, Saidi Archari, said the high price had improved copra supply to the mills, and producers should exploit this as long as the price remained lucrative.

In April, Copra Miller of Fiji Ltd recorded 823 tonnes which increased to 832 tonnes in May - a 21 per cent increase of about 250 tonnes.

Mrs Archari told the Fiji Times that increasing copra price seemed to be motivating copra producers.

She said the average price of coconut oil in Europe in May was 1,474 US dollars per metric tonne.