Originally from Thailand, fragrant coconuts are highly popular for their sweet juice, soft and smooth flesh, and pleasant milky aroma. The seedlings of fragrant coconuts are protected in Thailand, prohibiting their export. Young coconuts bear fruit every 22-26 days, ensuring year-round availability.
However, due to recent climate impacts, the supply of Thai coconuts has been constrained for an extended period. Jason, head of CTF Thailand, an importer and exporter of Thai fragrant coconuts, provided insights into the current market situation.
"In 2023 and 2024, Thailand's coconut-producing regions faced severe shortages due to the effects of El Niño and La Niña. The lingering impact continues to affect supply. Typically, from October to January, production peaks, and prices are at their lowest. However, this season, production remains low, and farmgate prices have more than doubled compared to previous years," Jason explained.
Market prices, though rising, have not increased as dramatically as farmgate prices. They are currently 40%-50% higher than in previous years. In China, a wholesale box of #9 large fragrant coconuts is selling for approximately ¥90-¥95 per box. Additionally, the lower temperatures across various regions in China have delayed the peak coconut consumption season. Combined with high prices, this has resulted in slower sales.
Looking ahead, Jason stated, "As weather conditions stabilize, coconut production is expected to return to normal by mid-to-late March, leading to a significant increase in supply. Moreover, we do not anticipate major price fluctuations like those seen from April to June last year." Last year, a severe market shortage pushed Thai coconut prices to historically high levels. However, this year's market conditions are expected to be more stable.
Despite recent supply challenges, demand for Thai coconuts continues to grow, with export volumes rising steadily. Coconuts have diverse applications—coconut water is a natural electrolyte-rich beverage favored by athletes and health-conscious consumers, while coconut flesh is widely used in the food and catering industries. These factors contribute to the long-term market potential of Thai coconuts. "We are continuously expanding our fragrant coconut orchards in Thailand. We currently own a 320-hectare planting base and manage approximately 1,040 hectares of young coconut orchards. All fertilizers and nutrient solutions are prepared by our in-house plantation management team to ensure the fruits meet health-conscious market demands."
CTF Thailand specializes in fragrant coconut plantation management and fresh fruit OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing). "We prioritize supply chain services and have operations in both China and Thailand. Our fresh coconuts are exported to China, Europe, and the United States, primarily serving large fruit distributors, new retail channels, e-commerce platforms, American brand suppliers, and major supermarket chains." Beyond coconuts, the company also operates kiwi and kiwi berry plantations in Yunnan and Sichuan, China, selling them under its own brand.
