According to the Vietnam Customs Department, fresh coconut exports from Vietnam ranked among the top 6 fruit items with the highest export value, with over 41 million USD in September. This was a 19% increase compared to the same period last year. In the first 9 months of the year, Vietnam earned over 131 million USD from fresh coconuts, an increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2024.
In addition to fresh and dried coconuts, Vietnam has exported over 100 processed products from coconut, such as coconut oil, canned coconut water, or dried coconut meat. In the past 9 months, the export value of coconut products was nearly 260 million USD, a significant increase of 55% compared to the same period last year.
The US is now Vietnam’s largest market, accounting for nearly 26% of Vietnam’s total coconut export turnover. The US is increasing coconut due to strong demand from retail chains and the beverage industry.
China ranks second. Additionally, many markets, including Spain, Puerto Rico, Australia, and Cambodia, have increased their imports of Vietnamese coconuts by 2 to 3 times.
Vietnam is among top 5 coconut exporters in the world.
Vinh Long province has a coconut area that accounts for over 50% of the country’s total coconut area (nearly 120,000 hectares, with about 22 million trees), making it the province’s key crop. On average, nearly 270,000 coconut-growing farming households in Vinh Long have a stable income of 100-150 million VND/ha/year. Among long-term industrial crops, coconut ranks 4th in terms of area, behind only rubber, coffee, and cashew.
The Vietnamese coconut industry also faces numerous challenges from traditional production practices, climate change, pests and diseases, and market price fluctuations.
Coconut is considered a “global superfood,” with the global market expected to grow from 3.5 billion USD (2023) to 8.2 billion USD (2032).
The Vietnamese government classifies coconut as one of the six key industrial crops, which are eligible for special support in land, credit, and trade promotion. Its geographical distance to China helps Vietnam shorten shipping times and reduce logistics costs. This is a clear competitive advantage over its rivals, especially Thailand.
“The Chinese market, which previously relied heavily on Thai supply, has now shifted strongly to importing coconut from Vietnam,” said Mr. Tattawin Saruno, an expert on Thai agricultural management.
Exports of fresh and processed coconuts to China increased by hundreds of percent in 2025 alone, helping Vietnam maintain its position as an emerging Asian supplier.