India’s Coconut Exports Rise 62% to ₹7,038 Crore in FY26, Driven by Value-Added Products

India’s coconut exports registered a 62 percent increase in the 2025-26 fiscal year, touching ₹7,038.25 crore compared to the previous year. The growth was primarily driven by a diversification of the export basket and rising international demand for value-added coconut products.

Activated carbon continued to dominate the country's coconut product exports, clocking ₹4,688.89 crore. This segment alone constituted around 67 percent of total coconut product exports, excluding coir. The export volume reached approximately 1.8 lakh tonnes. Demand for activated carbon spans multiple diversified sectors, including gold mining, water and air purification, removal of carcinogenic substances like poly-fluoroalkyl compounds, energy production through capacitors, and the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

Deepa D. Nair, Chief Executive Officer of the Coconut Development Board, stated that the export performance stems from increasing international demand, enhanced processing capabilities within the country, expanding market access through multiple Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), an increasing product matrix, and rising global demand for plant-based foods and vegan diets.

"India’s export basket has diversified significantly, with products such as activated carbon, virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut milk powder and coconut water gaining prominence," Nair noted.

Historically concentrated in the GCC region, coconut exports from India have now expanded to more than 155 countries. Major international buyers include the US, UAE, Sri Lanka, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, the UK, and the Netherlands.

To maintain export standards, the Coconut Development Board is focusing on product quality. The board has joined the Integrated Assessment Framework and is spearheading initiatives to ensure quality standards in association with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories.

Looking ahead, the upcoming World Coconut Day 2026 and national awards distribution ceremony are scheduled for September 2 at the Mount Carmel Convention Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan is set to inaugurate the event. The theme for the 2026 commemoration is ‘Coconuts in Times of Uncertainty: Securing Food, Energy, and Livelihoods,’ addressing challenges related to climate change, volatile markets, and resource pressures.

"The 62 percent growth in India's coconut exports highlights the economic potential of shifting from raw agricultural trade to value-added processing. By focusing on specialized industrial applications like activated carbon and consumer-driven segments like plant-based foods, domestic processors are successfully tapping into over 155 international markets. This expansion underscores how quality standardization and trade agreements can open up global supply chains for traditional agricultural sectors." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes