It is also a fibre-yielding crop for more than 15,000 coir-based industries, employing nearly 6 lakh people. The productivity of coconuts at a national level for 2022-23 (till February 2023) was at 9,346 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 primarily situated in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh, accounting for 89.13% of the coconut area and 90.77% of the coconut production in the country during 2021–22.

Trade Analysis:

India plays a prominent role in the global supply of coconut and related products. Between 2015-16 and 2021-22, the total coconut exports from India grew at a CAGR of 13%. During 2021-22, the coconut exports of India crossed the Rs. 3,236.83 crore (US$ 393 million) mark, an increase of 41% 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 2022-23, India’s coconut product exports are valued at Rs. 3,555 crore (US$ 427.3 million), which shows a growth of 9.8% from the year 2021-22. 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 $4.78 billion to $5.12 billion.

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 2020-21, the amount of coconut exports to these top 5 countries is 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 the UAE and Bangladesh, making up 14% and 12% of India’s coconut exports, respectively.