Coconut Prices Hit Record Highs in Vietnam, Philippines and Thailand

As climate change and pest infestations continue to disrupt supply, coconut prices in Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand have reached unprecedented levels.

In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta provinces, the cost of fresh coconuts at farms has surged to 180,000–210,000 Vietnamese dong ($6.94–8.10) per dozen. Meanwhile, second-grade coconuts are being sold at wholesale prices ranging from 140,000 to 170,000 dong ($5.40–6.56) per dozen. When factoring in grading and transportation costs, retail prices for top-grade coconuts can reach up to 25,000 dong ($0.96) each.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, chief executive officer of Vina T&T, commented that coconut prices are rising daily and the company is being forced to purchase coconuts at 200,000–220,000 dong ($7.71–8.48) per dozen to ensure supply. Currently, the company exports about seven 18-ton containers per week, each holding approximately 20,000 coconuts, but sales are meeting only two-thirds of demand.

Extreme weather and pest infestations have similarly impacted other key coconut-producing nations, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Across the region, coconut prices have surged by 50–100% compared with last year.

By late April, fresh coconut prices in Thai cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai had risen to $1.40–2.90 per kilogram. Meanwhile, in Manila and Quezon in the Philippines, retail prices ranged from $2.70 to $4.30 per kilogram (coconuts typically weigh between one and two kilograms depending on the variety).

Prolonged extreme weather has disrupted supply chains, causing a widespread price surge. El Niño has triggered severe droughts, while La Niña has brought heavy rains and unseasonal storms to major coconut-growing regions. Pest and disease outbreaks have further impacted production, even as demand in key markets such as China and the United States continues to rise.

Despite these global supply challenges, Vietnam has positioned itself as a competitive supplier with reliable quality and favorable pricing. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, fresh coconut exports from Vietnam have shown strong growth this year. In the first two months of 2025, coconut exports to the United States rose by 46% year on year. Exports surged dramatically following the decision by the United States to officially open its market to Vietnamese coconuts in August 2023, and this growth has continued.

Last year, Vietnam’s coconut and coconut product exports reached nearly $1.1 billion, with fresh coconuts alone accounting for $390 million. Vietnam exports coconuts to over 40 countries and territories. A formal export protocol between China and Vietnam was signed in August 2024, accelerating Vietnam’s exports to China. China consumes approximately 4 billion coconuts annually, of which 2.6 billion are fresh. Vietnam now supplies 20% of China’s coconut imports, making it the country’s third-largest supplier.

Vietnam is the world’s fifth-largest coconut exporter, with around 200,000 hectares of coconut farms and an annual production estimated at 2 million tons. Approximately one-third of these farms meet organic standards required by the United States and the European Union. Vietnamese coconuts are known for their distinctive flavor and long shelf life, making them particularly popular in summer in both China and the United States. The country also processes coconuts into a wide range of products, including dried coconut, coconut water, coconut milk and cosmetics. With continued growth in exports, Vietnam’s fresh coconut exports are projected to reach $500 million this year, securing a spot among the nation’s top agricultural exports.

Image: Unsplash

This article was based on a Chinese article. Read the original article.