Like every year when Easter approaches, demand was once again considerable for young, Thai coconuts with their characteristic diamond shape this year. “Demand was actually good all year. The market experienced some scarcity, and it then eventually becomes challenging to continue achieving the necessary prices,” says Andre van der Horst of Exotimex from Rijnsburg, the Netherlands.
“In recent years, coconuts have boomed. That has resulted in additional plants in Thailand and neighbouring countries, but it’s quite an investment as well, because it takes several years before the coconuts can be harvested,” Andre explains. Exotimex continues to focus on Thai product. “We’ve noticed that our customers prefer Thai coconuts, because these have the best quality.”
Characteristic of the young coconuts from Thailand is that they’ve all been cut into a diamond shape. Exotimex has imported young coconuts from Thailand for nearly ten years now, and they sell the coconuts primarily in Southern European countries. “But popularity has also increased considerably in Eastern European countries in recent years,” the importer says.
“The young coconuts have the times in their favour, and they’re often consumed at beach clubs, festivals and hip restaurants and cafés, where they’re used as a basis for smoothies, for instance.” But Exotimex doesn’t want to chance ready-to-drink concepts yet. “It would result in such an expensive product, customers just wouldn’t be willing to pay for that.”
For more information:
Andre van der Horst
Exotimex
Tel: +31 (0) 88 396 84 66
andre@exotimex.nl
www.exotimex.nl