Find Industry and Manufacturing expertise in Nauru

Manufacturing plays a very small role in the economy of Nauru, contributing about 3% of Nauru’s GDP (2008). The small manufacturing industry comprises mainly coconut products and some handicrafts. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Nauru produced 2,579 tonnes of coconut in 2011, from a total of 308 harvested hectares, giving total yield of 83,734 hectograms of coconut per hectare (FAOSTAT, 2011).

Phosphate mining is Nauru’s main source of economic revenue. In 1900 Rich deposits of phosphate were discovered on the island and in 1907 the Pacific Phosphate Company shipped the first shipment of phosphate to Australia. Primary reserves of phosphates were exhausted and mining ceased in 2006, but mining of a deeper layer of phosphate on the island began in 2007, secondary deposits are expected to last until 2030 (CIA World Factbook).

Phosphate makes up 75% of Nauru’s total yearly exports, with the majority of exports flowing to parts of Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Nauru is reliant on imports of Petroleum oil 15%, oils and fats 10%, natural rubber 8% and wood for fuel 8%, the island mainly imports from Austral, Nigeria and Korea (observatory of economic complexity, 2010).

Plans have been made to extend the manufacturing sector in Nauru; Nauru’s National Sustainable Development Strategy sets out development plans for a tuna processing plant, in the hope of lessening Nauru’s economic dependence on phosphate. The National Sustainable Development Strategy also intends to foster new areas of manufacturing for the same reason.

Share