Introduction
India is the third largest coconut-producing country in the world and accounted for about 31.45% of the world’s total production during FY22, with a production of 19,310 million nuts. During FY24, India produced 21,373.62 million nuts. The crop contributed around US$ 3.72 billion to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) during FY23. The coconut palm provides food security and livelihood opportunities to more than 12 million people in India. It is also a fibre-yielding crop for more than 15,000 coir-based industries, employing nearly six lakh people. The productivity of coconuts at a national level for FY24 was at 9,871 nuts per hectare, one of the highest in the world. Copra processing, coconut oil extraction and coir manufacturing are the traditional coconut-based activities in the country.
India’s coconut production is majorly situated in Kerala, Karnataka, Tami Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, accounting for 89.13% of the coconut area and 90.77% of the coconut production in the country during FY24. Other coconut-producing states in the country are West Bengal, Orissa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam and Bihar.
During FY22, the Government of India (GoI) provided financial assistance to the tune of US$ 10 million, for covering a fresh area of 4,078 hectares under the expansion of the area under the coconut initiative and 91-hectare demonstration plots for productivity improvement. This includes establishing six new coconut nurseries, a coconut nucleus seed garden and six new coconut processing units for value-added products like Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), activated carbon and ball copra, spray dried coconut milk powder.
Export Trend
India plays a prominent role in the global coconut and related products supplies. Between FY16 and FY22, the total coconut exports from India grew at a CAGR of 13%. In the first eight months of FY25, desiccated coconut exports increased 300% to US$ 9.6 million, while fresh coconut exports increased 12.7% to US$ 16.4 million. Additionally, copra exports climbed 10% to US$ 16.6 million. During FY23, the coconut exports of India crossed the US$ 452.19 million mark, an increase of 9.8% from the previous year. This strong export growth is helping create more employment required in the production of various coconut-based products such as coconut chips, coconut milk, coconut sugar, coconut water, tender coconut water, coconut honey, coconut jaggery, coconut milkshake, coconut snacks, virgin coconut oil, coconut natural cream, etc. that are seeing high export demand. There are about sixty-three top exporting ports in India that trade coconut and related products to its export destinations. Cochin Port exports most of the coconut shipments from India with a share of 30%, followed by Tuticorin Port with a 19% share of total coconut exports.
During the year FY23, India’s coconut products exports are valued at US$ 452.19 million which shows a growth of 9.8% from the year FY22. Trade in coconut oil represents 0.031% of total world trade. The exports of coconut oil grew between 2019 and 2020 by 7.16%, from US$ 4.78 billion to US$ 5.12 billion.
Export Destinations
India exports coconut to more than 140 countries around the world. The major importers of coconut from India are Vietnam, the UAE, Bangladesh, Malaysia and the USA.
For FY21, the amount of coconut exports to the top five countries are valued at Vietnam (US$ 29.6 million), UAE (US$ 16.61 million), Bangladesh (US$ 14.63 million), Malaysia (US$ 11.27 million), and USA (US$ 5.84 million), accounting for 66% of the exports from India. Vietnam is the major importer with a share of 25%, followed by UAE and Bangladesh, making for 14% and 12% of India’s coconut exports, respectively.
In 2016, India started exporting coconut oil to countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, the countries from where it had been imported earlier. In the same year, India commenced exporting desiccated coconut to the USA and Europe in large quantities under the initiative of the government along with the Coconut Development Board (CDB) to assist the coconut farmers in the production, processing, marketing and export of value-added coconut products. The main destinations for coconut oil exports from India are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Vietnam. During FY20, the fastest growth in coconut oil exports was witnessed in countries like Saudi Arabia, the US and Vietnam.
Government Initiatives
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Coconut Board of India had implemented many programs to develop the coconut industry in the country. Some of the schemes include the production and distribution of quality planting material, expansion of area under cultivation, technology demonstration and improvement, replanting and rejuvenation, support exporters for participating in international events, training for market promotion of export-specific products, developing market for coconut products globally by creating opportunities, etc. Other schemes such as Coconut Palm Insurance Mission and Kera Suraksha Insurance Scheme help protect the farmers from natural calamities and losses.
The Government has increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milling copra and ball copra from Rs. 5,250 (US$ 60.92) per quintal and Rs. 5,500 (US$ 63.83) per quintal for the marketing season 2014 to Rs. 11,582 (US$ 134.41) per quintal and Rs. 12,100 (US$ 140.37) per quintal for the marketing season 2025, registering growth of 121% and 120%, respectively.
Technology Mission on Coconut (TMoC)
The mission is initiated to converge and synergise all the efforts through vertical and horizontal integration of existing programs, address the problems and bridge the gaps through appropriate schemes in mission mode to ensure adequate, appropriate, timely and concurrent action to make coconut farming competitive and ensure reasonable returns for the farmers.
The key components of this mission are to develop and adopt technologies for managing insect pests and disease-affected coconut gardens, processing and product diversification, market research and promotion. It also entails financial assistance to entrepreneurs/farmers for setting up coconut-based industries (other than coir-based industries), increasing focus on research and development, post-harvest processing, product diversification, value addition and management of pests and diseases.
Recent Development
On World Coconut Day 2025, the Coconut Development Board (CDB) launched revised financial assistance schemes and presented Export Excellence Awards at Angamaly, Kerala. Subsidy under the Area Expansion Programme has been sharply raised from US$ 73.63 per hectare to US$ 634 per hectare, while support for seedling production increased from US$ 0.091 to US$ 0.51. MP and CDB Board member, Mr. M. K. Raghavan, called for greater focus on processing and product diversification. The Board also released updated guidelines, booklets, and technology publications to boost production, processing, marketing, and exports, aiming for sustainable growth of India’s coconut sector.
According to news articles, overall coconut prices hit a seven‐year high in January 2025, rising 38.7% YoY compared to a 33.8% increase observed in December 2024. Additionally, green coconut prices surged by 14.4% in January 2025, following a 12.3% rise in December 2024, with inflation in green coconut prices remaining in double digits since April 2024.
Governing Body
Coconut Development Board (CDB)
The CDB is the statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that works towards developing coconut cultivation and industry in India. The board's major functions are the development of industry, advising and imparting technical knowledge, providing financial assistance, improving marketing, implementing schemes, collecting statistics, and undertaking publicity activities, etc.
RELATED SITES
Coconut Development Board
Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare,
P.B. No.1021, Kera Bhavan,
SRV Road (Near SRV High School), Kochi - 682 011
Ernakulam District, Kerala
India
Tel.:+91-484-2375216
Fax: +91-484-2377902
Email: kochi.cbd@gov.in
Website: http://www.coconutboard.gov.in
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