Currently, Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces of Vietnam are entering the dry season, leading to a high demand for fresh coconuts. The price of the item has also increased significantly due to demand exceeding supply.
According to the owner of a coconut shop in Go Vap District (Ho Chi Minh City), at the beginning of 2025, the price was 11,000 VND; by the end of March, the price had risen to 13,000 VND. After deducting transportation expenses, he sells coconuts for 16,000 VND each, with a profit of only about 1,000-1,500 VND.
Similarly, another vendor in District 12 (Ho Chi Minh City) said that the input has decreased by 30% compared to 2024 due to prolonged heat and limited supply from gardens in the Mekong Delta. This price has increased by 100% compared to mid-2024.
Mr. Cao Ba Dang Khoa, General Secretary of the Vietnam Coconut Association, said that the price of fresh coconuts has increased by 110% compared to the same period last year, while the price of dried coconuts has risen by 150%. This year has seen a significant fluctuation in the prices of this item right from the beginning of the year. Importers from China, Malaysia, and Thailand are actively purchasing coconuts from Vietnam, creating fierce competition.
Coconut prices have doubled.
The General Secretary continued: Especially when the US and China open their markets to this product, many investors from other countries are also interested. In response to this trend, in Ben Tre province, the coconut area is being expanded, aiming to build a sustainable coconut value chain.
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ben Tre Province reported: Currently, coconuts are in the off-season, so production has decreased by about 50%. Furthermore, at this time, coconut processing companies have many export orders, especially from the American and European markets. Therefore, they are in great need of raw coconut materials. In addition, the prices of by-products have also increased, contributing to the rise in the price of raw materials.
Coconut and coconut-based products are popular beverages in the region, especially in neighboring countries of Vietnam. In some countries, such as Malaysia, coconuts are also used as offerings.
According to data from the General Department of Customs, by the end of 2024, Vietnam’s fresh coconut exports reached 390 million USD, an increase of 61% compared to the same period last year. Overall, the export of fresh coconuts and coconut products reached nearly 1.1 billion USD, an increase of over 20% compared to 2023. This is the first time in 14 years that coconuts have brought in a billion USD in turnover for Vietnam.
Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development indicates that the country now has 200,000 hectares of coconut, with an annual production of 2 million tons. One-third of the area meets organic standards under American and European standards, mainly in the Central and the Mekong Delta. Ben Tre coconut has been granted a geographical indication, with 133 cultivation area codes and over 8,300 hectares for export.
With more than 600 enterprises, the coconut industry in Vietnam has a competitive advantage in the international market. Vietnam ranks 4th in coconut exports in the Asia-Pacific region and 5th in the world.
China is the main export market, accounting for 25% of Vietnam’s coconut export value. The signing of the official import protocol by the two countries in August 2024 opens up great opportunities for this fruit. Vietnam is currently the third-largest coconut supplier to China, with over 20% market share in that country. Thanks to its price advantage and sweet, mild flavor, Vietnamese coconuts are favored in many markets such as the EU, the US, Canada, and South Korea.