From the middle of the 19th century until WWII, copra was massively exported to Europe to make oil for industrial use. The coconut palms were cultivated in the villages or more extensively in plantations which contributed to the spread of Christianity and to the indigenous populations' switch towards the market economy. Today, coconut palms still occupy around 12,000ha i.e two-thirds of the territory agricultural area. Once extracted and dried, the coconut pulp is transported to Papeete's oil-mills.