Tropical fruits grow abundantly. Major cash crops of Papua New Guinea are coffee, cacao, sugarcane, palm oil, tea, and rubber. Tuna, prawns, and timber are also exported. A newly established sugar industry in Papua New Guinea has made the country self-sufficient in this commodity. Natural resources of the island include water power, forests, and minerals, but most of them are not developed because of very limited transportation facilities.
Copper is the major mineral resource.
The largest concentration of copper in the world is at Tembagapura in Irian Jaya. Petroleum is produced in Irian Jaya, and natural gas has been discovered in Papua New Guinea. Large gold deposits were discovered at Ok Tedi in Papua New Guinea. There are a few small coastal roads. Riverboats are used for local transportation.