Coconut oil finds US market

SAMOA – Samoa’s Pacific Oil has just secured a joint venture with a large US multinational company, Dr. Bronners, to supply coconut oil for its Pacific soap products.

Under the name “Serendi Coco Samoa”, the venture will see a commitment to export 3000 tonnes of coconut oil from Samoa to supply the US manufacturer.

The move will also help over 1000 locals to become organically certified and fair trade farmers. Until now, Pacific Oil primarily supplied Europe but was subjected to unstable global prices for coconut oil.

Pacific Oil’s Director, Fanene Samau Sefo, said they expected their first shipment to go out at the end of this month, after 18 months of preparation work.

He said Dr. Bronners had come to Samoa about three years ago and started looking around for a company that could provide them with coconut oil. “Up until now, they have been getting their oil from the Philippines but they weren’t happy with the quality.”