Tokelau’s international supply lines run across vast ocean distances. Now, for the first time, the atoll nation has trade numbers that trace those currents—showing what is imported, where it comes from, and how exposed Tokelau’s trade can be to shocks.
Tokelau has published its first‑ever international merchandise trade statistics, a significant advance in the country’s ability to understand and manage its economic lifelines. A collaboration between Tokelau National Statistics Office and the Pacific Community (SPC), the release provides Tokelau’s most comprehensive view yet of its imports, and limited exports, over a decade-plus period.
The new statistics shed light on the rhythms and vulnerabilities of trade with one of the Pacific’s most geographically remote economies—population 2,560—where almost everything consumed arrives by sea, trade volumes are small, and record-keeping systems are still being developed.
“This work fills a long‑standing information gap for Tokelau,” said Mr Bimlesh Krishna, Economics Statistics Adviser with SPC who led the assistance mission supported by Australia’s Government.
“International merchandise trade statistics, or IMTS, normally depend on customs declarations lodged by importers and exporters. But for Tokelau, that information has not been systematically captured. Instead, Tokelau’s IMTS has been compiled using mirror statistics: export data reported by trading partners, in this case Samoa and New Zealand, flipped to reflect Tokelau’s imports.
“By using mirror data from Samoa Bureau of Statistics and Stats NZ, and a clear, documented methodology, Tokelau now has a credible, internationally comparable picture of its merchandise trade for the first time.”
Small volumes, high vulnerability
In 2024, Tokelau imported goods worth around NZD $6.9 million, down from a high of NZD $8.2 million in 2023—with trade exposed to timing, project‑related and external shocks.
Tokelau’s imports are overwhelmingly sourced from Samoa, which typically accounts for more than 90% of its total merchandise imports. Shipping constraints, infrequent voyages and small shipment sizes mean trade has historically been irregular, particularly before 2015.
From mid‑2015 onwards, the data show imports becoming more stable, before the COVID‑19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and shipping schedules across the region. The largest single quarterly import value was recorded in late 2020, driven by imports of electrical machinery and equipment from New Zealand for energy and telecommunications projects.
The composition of imports tells a compelling story about daily life and structural dependence:
- Mineral fuels and oils consistently make up the largest share of imports, underscoring Tokelau’s reliance on imported energy.
- Food and consumables, including beverages and meat products, show sharp fluctuations, reflecting irregular bulk shipments and the impact of major events held on the atolls in certain years.
- Tobacco and alcohol imports remain fairly steady over time, pointing to entrenched consumption patterns that may be of interest to both health and fiscal policymakers.
Tokelau’s exports are very limited, with much of what leaves the atolls being things like machinery sent overseas for repair—not trade in goods, and therefore not reflected in the data.
Overall, the release shows a trade system that is small in scale, highly concentrated and structurally vulnerable—but, for the first time, visible.
Foundations to future
Tokelau’s trade statistics are expected to become more robust in coming years. The planned adoption of the international-standard ASYCUDA common customs system will eventually allow imports and exports to be recorded Tokelau-side, reducing reliance on mirror data and improving timeliness.
“When Tokelau transitions to customs‑based data, this first release will serve as a vital baseline,” explains Mr Krishna. “It provides both historical context and a tested framework that can be built on as new systems come online.”
For the Tokelau National Statistics Office, the release stands as an example of how regional cooperation, right-sized methodology and sustained technical assistance can help small-population, big-ocean states make their economic realities visible.
“We deeply appreciate the support from SPC and all the previous technical assistance that has contributed to Tokelau’s international merchandise trade statistics over the years,” said Mr Malama Uaina Kitiona, Tokelau’s National Statistician. “Having this information available strengthens our ability to plan, monitor and explain our economy, and make better decisions.”
For more information on this story, contact Mr Ben Campion, Communications Adviser, Statistics for Development Division, Pacific Community (SPC).
Top photo: Three men unloading imported goods from a truck, Fakaofo, Tokelau, 16 November 2017, Tokelau, by Andrew Matautia. Co-collected, 2017. © Te Papa. Te Papa (O.047782)
