Malekula Island in Malampa Province in Vanuatu has become the first island to export copra direct to the Philippines.
In the past copra would have to transported to Luganville for export.
The Daily Post newspaper reports Vanuatu copra and cocoa exporter, Sethy Lui, saying his company has successfully exported 402 tonnes to the Philippines.
Mr Lui says he is impressed with the interest from copra producers who increased the initial estimated tonnage of 150 to 402 in less than a month.
The ship that took the copra also unloaded bags of cement which are now on sale at a much cheaper rate than the same product from Australia.
