Samoa’s economy recorded a 6.8 per cent year-on-year growth in the December 2024 quarter, but the headline expansion masked deepening trouble in several key sectors, including agriculture, fishing, and business services.

This is according to new figures released by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics.

While total real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached SAT $627 million for the quarter, and nominal GDP climbed to SAT $938.4 million, not all parts of the economy shared in the growth.

The primary sector, which includes agriculture and fishing, declined sharply, falling 12.5 per cent compared to the same quarter in 2023. Agriculture was down 10.8 per cent, driven by a nearly 60 per cent drop in fresh produce exports and reduced consumption. Fishing plummeted 19.6 per cent, mostly due to a 99.3 per cent collapse in fish exports. Together, these industries subtracted 1.3 percentage points from overall growth.

Business services, another traditionally stable sector, also experienced significant contraction. Value added dropped 15.9 per cent in real terms as demand fell for professional, scientific, and consultancy services. The industry’s contribution to real GDP growth declined by 0.7 percentage points, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of negative growth.

The construction industry recorded a modest 2.6 per cent annual increase, but this was not enough to offset a quarterly decline of 9.5 per cent, reflecting a slowdown in new infrastructure projects. Meanwhile, the accommodation and restaurant sector dropped 6.5 per cent, pointing to ongoing weakness in tourism and short-term lodging demand.

“The growth this quarter was encouraging overall, but not without warning signs,” the report stated. “Primary industries and business services are under strain, and their performance remains critical to broad-based recovery.”

Despite these challenges,  performances in commerce (+15.4%), transport (+88.6%), and public administration (+5.1%)  pushed the economy forward. These three sectors were the largest contributors to the quarter’s positive growth, making up the majority of gains.

Still, the data suggests that while Samoa continues its post-pandemic economic rebound, the recovery remains uneven. Analysts warn that ongoing weakness in core sectors like agriculture and construction could slow momentum in 2025 without targeted support or market interventions.