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Desiccated coconuts: lower yields in India

December 17, 2025 at 12:56 PM , Der AUDITOR
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MANILA/NEW DELHI. According to T.M. Duché, export prices for desiccated coconuts remain stable, while coconut oil and copra are trading slightly weaker. In India, difficulties such as pest infestation and labour shortages are causing a decline in yields.

Desiccated coconuts remain stable

Coconut markets remained under pressure this week, with copra and coconut oil prices falling in both the Philippines and international markets, while desiccated coconuts remained at a high level thanks to stable European demand. The industry continues to focus on supporting farmers and expanding processing, according to the latest report from the experts at T.M. Duché.

In Europe, coconut oil prices trended slightly weaker. CIF quotations in Rotterdam were mostly between USD 2,270 and USD 2,345/mt, influenced by the overall subdued sentiment in the vegetable oil sector and falling palm oil prices. Desiccated coconuts remained resilient. Export prices have remained at USD 1.47–1.90/lb FOB for 14 weeks. Continued strong demand from Europe, especially from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, is supporting the price level. Meanwhile, copra prices in the Philippines continue their downward trend. High supply coupled with subdued demand, especially from oil mills, weighed on prices in all regions and dampened short-term expectations for coconut oil.

At the same time, freight rates from Asia to north-western Europe are rising. The Drewry World Container Index shows an average of around USD 1,957 for a 40' FCL in mid-December. Despite the increase, rates remain well below the pandemic highs but are still above the pre-pandemic level of 2019, according to T.M. Duché.

Pest infestation and monkey plague in India

Coconut producers in Canacona, India, are facing considerable challenges this season. Pest infestation and an acute shortage of harvest workers have significantly reduced yields on many plantations. The decline in experienced coconut pickers is particularly affecting production. Traditional harvesting methods are considered dangerous, and recent fatal accidents and serious injuries have led younger workers in particular to turn away from this profession, as reported by the Times of India. At the same time, production costs are rising. Higher wages, crop losses and pest pressure are making cultivation increasingly unprofitable for many small farmers. According to local industry representatives, this supply shortage is contributing to rising coconut prices as traders stock up their inventories in neighbouring states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, explains Ashok Kumar Desai, former president of the Canacona Taluka Farmers' Cooperative, to the Times of India.

The damage affects not only coconut palms, but also other crops such as betel nuts, bananas, papayas and pulses. Some farmers are already refraining from planting new crops due to a monkey plague. Environmentalists see the cause in increasing development and deforestation, which is displacing wildlife from their natural habitats. Overall, growers in Canacona expect a crop failure of around 30% this year and are calling for decisive government intervention. In India, the price for high-fat, fine-grade desiccated coconuts is currently around USD 2,880/mt FOB.

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