Philippine Coconut Exports to Remain Strong, Projected at USD2-3 Billion until 2026

Philippine coconut export revenues are expected to remain robust at around USD2 billion to USD3 billion until 2026, given the rising demand for coconut products and expected improvement in supply.  
In a briefing on the sidelines of the World Coconut Congress at SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday, United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) chair Marco Reyes noted the rising global demand for coconut for health and wellness products. He expressed optimism, coconut oil export revenues which hit a record USD2.2 billion in 2024, would continue to rise with the rising demand in the US and Europe, and projected recovery in domestic production. 
In the same press briefing, Philippine Coconut Authority Administrator Dexter Buted underscored the government’s goal to plant 100 million coconut trees by 2028 to achieve global market leadership.  He said they planted around 8.6 million last year, while the target for this year is around 15.3 million. For the next three years, around 25.3 million per year. 
The program has been allocated around PHP2.8 billion this year, which is already a big improvement compared to the PHP306 million they received in the past, he added.
PHILIPPINE COCONUT INDUSTRY SUPPORTS HIGHER BIODIESEL BLEND
The United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) has voiced strong support for the government’s plan to increase the biodiesel blend in diesel fuel to four percent starting in 2026. The move is expected to boost demand for copra, the dried coconut meat used to make coconut oil, the raw material for coco methyl ester or biodiesel.  
UCAP Vice-chairman Dean Lao, Jr. welcomed the government’s decision to maintain the biodiesel blend at the current three percent, the implementation of which was delayed due to rising copra and cooking oil prices. He said this at the press conference following the opening of the World Coconut Congress 2025 at SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, 
Lao said the policy gives the industry time to prepare for the higher biodiesel mandate. He noted though that the benefits of biodiesel are often overlooked as well as the improved fuel efficiency.  “A comprehensive test showed that adding biodiesel improved mileage by 10 percent,” he said.
Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dexter Buted disclosed last month that the government is evaluating the market situation to determine when the suspension of the increase will be lifted. Buted, a member of the National Biofuel Board (NBB), said the body is keen on initiating the increase to B4 within the first quarter of 2026.  He said this would be driven by an increase in production, aided by the PCA’s fertilization program.