India’s coconut product exports rose 62% in FY26 to ₹7,038.35 crore, or USD 794.70 million, from ₹4,349.03 crore in the previous fiscal year. India also remained the world’s largest coconut producer, with 31.24% of global coconut production.
Coconut Sector in India
India is a major producer of coconut, a tropical plantation crop grown mainly in coastal and southern states. The crop is used for food, oil, fibre, shell-based products, and industrial applications.
Export Basket and Value-Added Products
Coconut exports in India include virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut water, and activated carbon. These products belong to the value-added segment of the coconut economy and are used in food processing, cosmetics, and industrial filtration.
Production and Regional Concentration
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh accounted for 91.11% of India’s total coconut production. These four states form the core coconut belt of the country and dominate both cultivation and processing activity.
Institutional and Policy Framework
The Coconut Development Board is the statutory body associated with the development of the coconut sector in India. It had registered 8,700 coconut product exporters by 31 July 2026. The government allocated ₹147.21 crore to Coconut Development Board activities in 2025-26. It also used ₹632.77 lakh for the establishment and maintenance of 2,175 hectares of new coconut cultivation.
Budget Support and Scheme
The Union Budget 2026-27 introduced the Coconut Promotion Scheme with an allocation of ₹350 crore. The scheme is linked to high-value agricultural development and coconut sector expansion.
Important Facts for Exams
- Coconut is a plantation crop and is classified as a tropical perennial crop.
- India is the largest coconut producer in the world.
- Virgin coconut oil, coconut water, and activated carbon are important coconut-based products.
- The Coconut Development Board is the main institutional body for coconut sector development in India.
India’s coconut sector supports nearly 30 million livelihoods, including about 10 million small and marginal farmers. Coconut cultivation in India is concentrated in the southern peninsula and along the coastal regions.
