Sri Lanka Export of Coconut Kernel Products Down in 2023

Data from Sri Lanka’s Coconut Development Authority showed the country’s export of coconut kernel products for the year 2023 turned in Rs119,546.22 million (USD366.11 million), dropping 9 percent from Rs131,073.35 million (USD407.28 million) a year earlier.  Earnings from the top five export products namely coconut milk, desiccated coconut, virgin coconut oil, coconut milk powder, and coconut cream in that order, reached Rs94,027.88 million, likewise declining by 9 percent from Rs103,648.09 million previously.

Except for coconut cream, the top five exports posted declines in respective turnovers from year-ago levels. However, in terms of volume traded during the year, coconut milk and coconut cream registered gains. The top export, based on revenue, coconut milk increased shipment by 10 percent to 58,013 MT from 52,765 MT; coconut cream which was the fifth leading export saw volume leaped 21 percent to 20,673 MT from 17,137 MT.  

On the other hand, the second biggest export earner, desiccated coconut had scaled back shipment by 13 percent to 37,988 MT from 43,791 MT; along with virgin coconut oil with overseas purchases down by 12 percent to 17,974 MT from 20,319 MT; and coconut milk powder which slipped 2 percent to 8,407 MT from 8,621 MT.

For the month of December, coconut milk, coconut milk powder, and coconut cream were export winners. Coconut milk export climbed 29 percent to 6,204 MT from 4,818 MT; coconut milk powder rose 3 percent to 750 MT from 725 MT; coconut cream jumped 36 percent to 2,007 MT from 1,471 MT.  By contrast, desiccated coconut cut deliveries by 15 percent to 3,438 MT from 4,040 MT; virgin coconut oil a more significant decline by 33 percent to 4,356 MT from 6,470 MT.