Overview

The Port Vila Central Market Survey in March quarter of 2025 showed an overall volume decrease of -66 percent compared to the previous quarter. Staple produce, Fruits, and Vegetables produce contributed to the decrease in the overall volume. (Refer to table 1 & 4).

The overall price increased by 64 percent compared to the previous quarter. All food group produces contributed to the overall price increase. (Refer to table 2 & 5).

Staple Food Produce

The supply of Staple food produce decreased by -41 percent when compared to the previous quarter, while the average weighted price increased by 58 percent.

Commodities that contributed to the decrease in volume were, Sweet Potato (Kumala) at -84 percent, Manioc at -45 percent, Green banana at -24 percent, Island Taro at -19 percent and Fiji Taro at -15 percent.

When compared to the same quarter of the previous year, staple food produce volume decreased by -44 percent and its weighted average price also decreased by -12 percent. (Refer to table 1 & 2).

C

Fruit Produce

An overview of Fruits supplied to the Port Vila Central Market in the quarter under review showed an overall volume decrease of -62 percent compared to the previous quarter, while its weighted average price increased by 6 percent. Fruits that contributed to the decrease in volume were, Ripe Banana at -79 percent, Pawpaw at -74 percent, Watermelon at -42 percent and Green Coconut at -36 percent. When compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the quantity supplied of fruits to the Port Vila Central Market decreased by -19 percent and the weighted average price increased by 2 percent. (Refer to table 1 & 2).

Vegetable Produce

The supply of Vegetables to the Port Vila Central Market in March quarter of 2025 recorded an overall volume decrease of -87 percent and the average price per kilograms increased by 2 percent compared to the previous quarter.

Vegetable produces that contributed to the decrease in the overall volume of vegetables, supplied to the Port Vila Central market in the quarter under review includes, cucumber at -90 percent, Island Cabbage at -60 percent, Chinese cabbage at -48 percent and Pumpkin at -5 percent. There was no White bowl cabbage, purple bowl cabbage, Lettuce and Tomato sold at the market in the quarter under review.

When compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the supply of vegetables to the market decreased by -51 percent and its average weighted price increase by VT191 per Kilograms. (Refer to table 1 & 2).

Seller Per Commodity Group

March quarter of 2025 recorded a total average of 87 sellers1 at the Port Vila Central Market which is a decrease of 87 vendors when compared to the previous quarter and a decrease of 5 vendors when compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

When compared to the previous quarter, Vegetables produce vendors decreased by -67 percent, Fruits produce vendors decreased by -53 percent and Staple produce vendors decrease by -10 percent.

When compared to March quarter of 2024, Vegetable produce vendors and Staple produce vendors increased by 47 percent and 28 percent respectively while fruits produce vendors decreased by -49 percent. (Refer to table 6).

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[1] This is the total number of sellers at the market. However, one seller can sell more than 1 type of produce hence the analysis by sellers per produce

Value of Supplies

The average value of commodities at the Port Vila Central Market in the quarter under review recorded a value of VT451,000. This is an overall decrease of -47 percent compared to the previous quarter and a dec)rease of -21 percent when compared to the same quarter of the previous year. (Refer to table 3

Staple produce registered the largest share in value at 44 percent. Staple produce decreased in value by -5 percent over the previous quarter and decreased in value by -42 percent over the same quarter of the previous year.

Vegetables produce recorded the second largest share in value at 29 percent share. Vegetables produce decreased by -66 percent over the previous quarter and it increased by 80 percent in the same quarter of the previous year.

Fruits produce registered the least share in value at 28 percent share. Fruits produce value decreased by -53 percent in the quarter under review and decreased by -22 percent in the same quarter of the previous year.

Concepts and Definitions

The Port Vila Market Survey was instigated to measure the price and volume of specific agricultural produces in the main market. The survey is conducted on a fortnightly basis.The data analysed in this report shows quarterly average supply and prices of the commodities under study. Weights are based on 2016 using HIES 2010 and Agriculture Census 2007 and were used henceforth.