Indonesia is looking to ramp up its production of South Sea pearls to 7 million tons from 5.7 million tons in 2010, and says it has the potential to produce up to 20 million tons a year.
The country is only using about 28 percent of its pearl cultivation potential in eastern Indonesian waters, including around West Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua, according to Fadel Muhammad, the minister of maritime affairs and fisheries.
Of the 5.7 million tons of pearl production last year, about 95 percent was exported to Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and Japan, with a total value of roughly $30 million, Fadel said.
“That’s far below the world’s total pearl trade value, which is estimated at $1.5 billion a year,” he said.