As climate change and pest infestations continue to disrupt supply, Vietnam’s coconut prices have reached the highest level. A similar situation has occurred with coconut prices in the Philippines and Thailand.
In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta provinces, the cost of fresh coconuts at farms has surged to $8 per dozen. Meanwhile, second-grade coconuts are being sold at wholesale prices ranging from $5.40 to $6.56 per dozen. When factoring in grading and transportation costs, retail prices for top-grade coconuts can reach up to $1 each.
Vietnam’s coconut
According to a Vietnamese export company of coconut, coconut prices are rising daily. In addition, the company should purchase Vietnam’s coconut at around $8 per dozen to ensure supply. Currently, the company exports about seven 18 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 regions, coconut prices have surged by 50–100% compared with last year.
Young coconut from Vietnam
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.
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. Additionally, demand in key markets such as China and the United States has continued to rise.
A coconut factory in Vietnam
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, 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.
Last year, Vietnam’s coconut exports reached nearly $1.1 billion, with fresh coconuts alone accounting for $390 million. Vietnam’s coconut has presence to more than 40 countries and territories. A formal export protocol between China and Vietnam was signed in August 2024, accelerating Vietnam’s exports to China.
Currently, China consumes approximately 4 billion coconuts per year, of which 2.6 billion are fresh coconuts. Vietnam now supplies 20% of China’s coconut imports, making it the country’s third-largest supplier.
Coconut shell briquette charcoal from Vietnam
Vietnam is the world’s fifth-largest coconut exporter. The whole country has around 200,000 hectares of coconut farms and an annual production reaches 2 million tons. Approximately one-third of these farms meet organic standards required by the United States and the European Union. Vietnamese coconuts are famous 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.
Vietnamese source: https://sansangxuatkhau.ppd.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/gia-dua-dat-muc-cao-ky-luc-tai-viet-nam-philippines-va-thai-lan.html