Indian Trade Portal (2024)

INTRODUCTION

India is the largest coconut-producing country in the world and accounted for about 31.45% of the world’s total production during 2021-22, with a production of 19,247 million nuts. The crop contributes around Rs. 307,498 million (US$ 3.88 billion) to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The coconut palm provides food security and livelihood opportunities to more than 12 million people in India. It is also a fiber yielding crop for more than 15,000 coir-based industries, providing employment to nearly 6 lakh people. The productivity of coconut at a national level for 2021-22 was at 9,123 nuts per hectare and is 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 and Tami Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, accounting for 89.13% of the coconut area and 90.04% of the coconut production in the country. Other coconut-producing states in the country are West Bengal, Orissa and Gujarat.

During the year 2021-22, the Government of India has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 801 million (US$ 10 million, released as on 31st Dec 2021) for covering a fresh area of 4,078 hectare under the expansion of area under coconut initiative and 91-hectare demonstration plots for productivity improvement. This includes establishing six new coconut nurseries and 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.

EXPORTS TREND

India plays a prominent role in the global coconut and related products supplies. 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 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 19.0% share of total coconut exports.

In the calendar year 2020, India’s coconut oil exports were valued at US$ 31.8 million, making it the 13th largest exporter of coconut oil in the world. Trade in coconut oil represent 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 USA. For 2020-21, The amount of coconut exports to these top 5 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 was getting imported earlier. In the same year, India commenced exporting of desiccated coconut to USA and Europe in large quantities under the initiative of the government along with coconut development board (CDB) to assist the coconut farmers in production, processing, marketing and export of value-added coconut products. The main destination for coconut oil exports from India are UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US and Vietnam. During the 2019-2020 period, 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 has implemented many programs to develop the coconut industry in the country. Some of the schemes include 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.

Technology Mission on Coconut (TMoC)

The mission is initiated to converge and synergize all the efforts through vertical and horizontal integration of existing programs and 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 ensures 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 of coconut-based industries (other than coir-based industries), increase focus on research and development, post-harvest processing, product diversification, value addition and management of pest and diseases.