Philippines Aims To Plant 50 Million Coconut Trees by 2026

Under the direction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines is ramping up its coconut replanting program with the goal of reclaiming its position as the world’s leading coconut producer — a title that it lost to Indonesia decades ago.

The Philippine Coconut Authority now aims to have 50 million coconut trees planted by 2026 — double the original target of 25 million. This target is part of a broader five-year plan launched in 2023 with the ambition of planting 100 million coconut trees by 2028. More than 8.5 million coconut trees have already been planted, with at least another 15 million expected by the end of the year.

President Marcos has allocated funding to allow the Philippine Coconut Authority to work with farming communities to accelerate the production of planting materials. The revised plan also includes a fertilization program designed to increase yields from the country’s existing 340 million coconut trees. Many of these are aging trees that currently produce about 40 coconuts annually. Even with improved care, their realistic potential output is approximately 60 to 80 coconuts per tree per year — well below the 120 to 150 coconuts afforded by younger, more productive trees.

Global demand for coconut oil continues to grow, owing in part to the European Union’s decision to phase out palm oil imports by 2030. This shift toward sustainability creates new opportunities for coconut producers such as the Philippines. Moreover, rising coconut oil prices reflect falling copra (dried coconut) production and surging demand for fresh coconuts as a healthy juice option, which diverts supply away from processing into oil.

In 2024, Indonesia’s coconut output reached 17.13 million metric tons, while the Philippines produced only 14.77 million metric tons. The production gap has widened in recent years, especially after Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Super Typhoon Yolanda) devastated the Philippines in 2013, destroying around 10 million coconut trees and significantly reducing output.

Image: Unsplash

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