Free of charge

Desiccated coconuts: challenges are increasing

November 8, 2023 at 11:22 AM , Der AUDITOR
Play report as audio

MANILA. After El Niño led to severe drought in the Philippines, which has already affected the quantity and quality of this year's coconut crop, the upcoming typhoon season could lead to further declines in production. If the expected increase in global demand materialises, supplies might get tight.

Extreme weather hits the Philippines

The fourth quarter, which plays an important role due to the global holidays, also poses further challenges for market players in the Philippine coconut industry, as the experts at T.M. Duché report. According to the Philippine weather bureau PASAGA, the weather phenomenon El Niño in particular is likely to continue to cause major problems. While El Niño mainly caused a severe drought in the first half of the year, which reduced the yield of this year's crop and impaired the quality of the coconuts due to pest infestation and disease, the island nation now has to expect tropical typhoons until 2024. PASAGA states that the risk of this is particularly high between November 2023 and January 2024. The typhoons regularly cause major damage, not only to the coconut palms themselves, but also to the infrastructure in the Philippines, meaning that workers are often unable to reach the plantations or factories. All of this has an impact on production. There is then a risk that the effects of El Niño could lead to another dry first half of the year 2024.

Expected decline in production

T.M. Duché also reports that the United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) estimates this year's coconut production at 2.1 million mt, a 6.9% drop compared to the 2.26 million mt harvested last year. The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is attempting to mitigate the effects of El Niño through various measures, such as providing market players with water pumps, fertilisers and seedlings for the affected areas. However, as a global increase in demand is expected, these measures may not be enough to meet the high demand in 2024, and the decline in production is likely to lead to price increases. The experts add that December is a short production month, as the factories are closed over the Christmas holidays, so delays in shipments are to be expected.

View more
price chart, desiccated coconuts, Sri Lanka
price chart, desiccated coconuts, Indonesia
price chart, desiccated coconuts, Philippines 
price chart, coconut oil, Indonesia
more price charts

View related articles

Go to the News Overview
Nuts
Oct 20, 2025
NEW DELHI. While the outlook for the peanut oil market is quite encouraging, the situation is different for peanuts. Indonesia has still not lifted its import ban on Indian peanuts, but a solution is being sought.
Nuts
Oct 15, 2025
ORDU. Although demand on the Turkish hazelnut market leaves much to be desired, both commodity and export prices have continued to rise, with supply bottlenecks providing sufficient support. Ferrero's offer is still eagerly awaited.
Dried Fruit
Oct 14, 2025
AYDIN. This week, the Turkish dried fig sector is kicking off the 2025/2026 export season. Growers are dissatisfied with the sluggish demand for raw materials and are calling for support from the authorities.
Dried Fruit
Oct 14, 2025
MANISA. The Chamber of Agriculture in Sarıgöl is calling on exporters to speed up the export of table grapes. Growers can continue to deliver their sultanas to the TMO collection points until approximately the end of December.