10 World’s Largest Coconut-Producing Countries –There are 10 countries as the World’s Largest Coconut Producers According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2021. Coconut has multiple benefits for its diverse uses, ranging from food, medicine, construction/furniture to the cosmetic industry, and is considered one of one of the most useful plant species in the world, and is often referred to as the tree of life. The inner flesh of a ripe coconut has benefits as a food source for many people. When immature/young coconut, the coconut water in the fruit can be drunk and is beneficial for health
Taxonomically, coconut (Cocos nucifera) belongs to the Araceae family so that it is related to date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), sago (Metroxylon sago), oil palm (Elaeis), and Red Palm (Cyrtostachys lakka). The originality of the area, the origin of this plant are debatable although many people say that coconut comes from Southeast Asia and Melanesia. Coconut trees can grow on sandy soils and are very tolerant of high salinity so it is not surprising that this plant is everywhere because many people can find this plant in many areas, especially in coastal/seaside areas. Biologically, this plant likes areas with abundant sunlight and regular rainfall (1,500-3000 mm per year).
Based on data from the FAO Statistical Database (FAO Stats), Globally, coconut production worldwide in 2021 is about 63.6 million tons with a planted area of 11.6 million hectares. The production of 2021 has increased gradually from time to time. In 1970, coconut production was just 16 million tons with a harvested area of around 6.6 million hectares. Overall, it has increased to around 47 million tons from 1970 to 2021.
World’s Production and Harvested Areas of Coconut From 1970 to 2021
| Years | Harvested Areas | Production of Coconut |
|---|---|---|
| (Hectares) | (Tons) | |
| 1970 | 6,674,568 | 26,152,003 |
| 1971 | 6,972,486 | 28,490,707 |
| 1972 | 7,061,087 | 29,910,315 |
| 1973 | 7,105,115 | 27,853,601 |
| 1974 | 7,276,283 | 26,521,160 |
| 1975 | 7,380,504 | 30,599,152 |
| 1976 | 7,718,809 | 33,461,573 |
| 1977 | 7,971,087 | 31,913,805 |
| 1978 | 8,167,589 | 32,534,090 |
| 1979 | 8,515,868 | 31,061,767 |
| 1980 | 8,724,094 | 32,014,661 |
| 1981 | 8,887,497 | 33,862,372 |
| 1982 | 9,040,193 | 33,314,706 |
| 1983 | 8,990,468 | 32,358,161 |
| 1984 | 9,099,075 | 31,266,338 |
| 1985 | 9,350,318 | 35,721,018 |
| 1986 | 9,572,059 | 38,753,985 |
| 1987 | 9,743,961 | 38,511,532 |
| 1988 | 9,853,611 | 37,104,874 |
| 1989 | 9,837,565 | 38,130,506 |
| 1990 | 9,939,361 | 43,279,868 |
| 1991 | 10,109,438 | 44,306,073 |
| 1992 | 10,092,154 | 45,959,402 |
| 1993 | 10,363,149 | 47,384,502 |
| 1994 | 10,584,972 | 48,866,231 |
| 1995 | 10,677,123 | 50,649,396 |
| 1996 | 10,762,957 | 49,775,894 |
| 1997 | 10,711,562 | 50,462,233 |
| 1998 | 10,542,559 | 49,323,701 |
| 1999 | 10,579,521 | 49,597,411 |
| 2000 | 10,643,489 | 51,661,771 |
| 2001 | 10,909,966 | 52,438,312 |
| 2002 | 10,791,586 | 54,092,282 |
| 2003 | 10,854,281 | 54,850,186 |
| 2004 | 10,927,084 | 55,617,951 |
| 2005 | 11,026,816 | 58,379,824 |
| 2006 | 11,088,006 | 58,866,422 |
| 2007 | 11,467,347 | 62,900,360 |
| 2008 | 11,405,799 | 61,087,053 |
| 2009 | 11,435,642 | 62,071,452 |
| 2010 | 11,604,087 | 61,012,090 |
| 2011 | 11,755,208 | 59,747,574 |
| 2012 | 11,854,795 | 62,519,556 |
| 2013 | 11,282,561 | 62,301,948 |
| 2014 | 11,045,854 | 61,756,512 |
| 2015 | 11,160,383 | 60,521,678 |
| 2016 | 11,032,974 | 59,846,576 |
| 2017 | 11,131,159 | 58,855,810 |
| 2018 | 11,144,422 | 65,308,147 |
| 2019 | 11,309,992 | 63,744,657 |
| 2020 | 11,298,967 | 62,386,241 |
| 2021 | 11,307,699 | 63,683,595 |
| Source :FAOSTAT, 2022 | ||
By continent, coconut production in 2021 has a large area in the Asian region reaching 54 million tons, followed by the Americas at 4.7 million tons, and Oceania at 2.8 million tons. If viewed from the point of view of the country, several countries become the center of coconut plantations. Because the coconut plant has several benefits, especially in terms of health, many countries are competing to cultivate this plant. The following are some of the world’s largest coconut-producing countries in 2021. This data is obtained from the FAO Statistical Database in 2021.
Table Rank of 10 World’s Largest Coconut-Producing Countries
| Rank | Countries | Production of Cononut in 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | ||
| 1 | Indonesia | 17,159,937 |
| 2 | Philippines | 14,717,293 |
| 3 | India | 14,301,000 |
| 4 | Sri Lanka | 2,496,000 |
| 5 | Brazil | 2,457,860 |
| 6 | Viet Nam | 1,866,181 |
| 7 | Papua New Guinea | 1,813,553 |
| 8 | Myanmar | 1,238,307 |
| 9 | Mexico | 1,120,093 |
| 10 | Thailand | 797,700 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2021 | ||
Brief Description of 10 World’s Largest Coconut-Producing Countries in the World
1. Indonesia
Indonesia is the world’s largest coconut-producing countries with coconut production reaching 17.1 million tons. In this country, the planted area reaches more than 3.5 million hectares with more than 90% of the area belonging to smallholder plantations. There are several provinces that are the main coconut plantation areas and its area spreads out in many provinces of Indonesia.
In terms of area, there are several important provinces in Indonesia as centers of coconut cultivation. The area with the largest area and production is Riau, North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, East Java, and Maluku. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture in 2019 showed that Riau’s copra production reached 390,000 tons, North Sulawesi with 271 tons, Central Sulawesi with 195,000 tons, Maluku with 210 thousand tons, and East Java with 240 thousand tons. There are several types of superior coconut in Indonesia and many Indonesian farmers plant it. The types of coconuts include Green Coconut, Early Entok Coconut, Gading Coconut, Pandan Fragrant Coconut, Kopyor Coconut, Wulung Coconut, Hybrid Coconut, and Red Coconut.
2. Philippines
The Philippines is the 2nd largest country after Indonesia as a world coconut-producing country. According to data from FAO in 2021, coconut production reached 14.7 million tons with a coconut plantation area of more than 3 million hectares. The majority of the country’s coconut production is in several regions, namely Davao, North Mindanao, and the Zamboangan Peninsula. Many of the country’s coconuts are also exported abroad in the form of coconut oil, dried coconut, copra meal, and oleochemicals. In 2013 coconut farming in this country experienced a terrible shock, Typhoon Haiyan damaged coconut plantations there and Around 44 million crops were damaged. Economically, it affects 1 million coconut farmers in the country.
3. India
India is the 3rd largest country as the world’s largest coconut-producing country. In 2021, production reached 14.3 million tons with a land area of more than 2.1 million hectares. There are several states in India that are important areas for coconut cultivation. The area includes the states of Kerala, Tamil Nandu, Karnataka, Andhara Pradesh, and Odisha. Of these regions, the states of Kerala and Karna have the largest coconut plantation area in India. In India, coconut is one of the important plants and it symbolizes purity, fertility, and blessings besides many religious ceremonies in this country that use coconut.
4. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is the 4th largest country as the largest coconut producer in the world. Its production in 2021 reached 2.49 million tons. In this country, coconut is an important commodity. A total of 12% of its agricultural products are from coconut plants with an area of approximately 395 thousand hectares. Coconuts produced from this country are also exported abroad and generate 423 million dollars for the country’s income. The main area of coconut production in Sri Lanka is in the area called the Coconut Triangle, which includes the districts of Puttalam, Kurunegala, and Colombo.
5. Brazil
Introduced by Portuguese explorers in 1553 and first planted in the state of Bahia, Brazil became one of the world’s major coconut producers. Brazil is the 5th largest country as the largest coconut-producing country in the world. Its production in 2021 reached 2.45 million tons. The North and Northeast regions of the country are central to coconut production in the states of Bahia, Sergipe, and Ceará.
6. Vietnam
Vietnam is the 6th biggest producer of Coconut in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of coconut from Vietnam reached 1.8 million tonnes. Geograhically, in Vietnam, Bến Tre is the main regions of coconut cultivation in Vietnam. In this province, the district area with extensive growing area are located Giồng Trôm and Mỏ Cày Nam.
7. Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is the 7th biggest producer of coconut in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of coconut from Papua New Guinea reached 1.8 million tonnes. Geograhically, in Papua New Guinea, the main region of Coconut in Papua New Guinea are located in East New Britain, West New Britain, Bougainville and New Ireland provinces. These provice contributes 73% of national production.
8. Myanmar
Myanmar is the 8th biggest producer of Coconut in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Coconut from Myanmar, 1.2 million tons. Geographically, some growing regions of Coconut in Myanmar are located in Yangon Region and Manaung, Kyaukpyu, and Thandwe in Rakhine State.
9. Mexico
Mexico is the 9th biggest producer of Coconut in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of coconut from Mexico reached 1.12 million tonnes. Geograhically, in Mexico, some coconut growing regions are located in Guerrero, Colima and Tabasco. Guerrero contributes 80% of the coconut production nationwide.
10. Thailand
Thailand is the 10th biggest producer of Coconut in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Coconut from Thailand reached 797 thousand tonnes. Geograhically, some growing regions of Coconut in Thailand are located in Nakhonpatom, Ratchaburi, Samutsongkram, Samutsakhon provinces in central Thailand.
Source of 10 Largest Coconut-Producing Countries in the World
Food Agriculture Organization (FAO).2019. Production of Coconuts: top 10 producers Accessed via http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/visualize on 13 July 2021
Directorate General of Plantations, Ministry of Agriculture.2019. Indonesian Plantation Statistics Accessed Through http://ditjenbun.pertanian.go.id/?publikasi=buku-publikasi-statistik-2016-2019
Philippine Statistics Authority. 2019. Major Non-Food and Industrial Crops Quarterly Bulletin, October-December 2019 Accessed via https://psa.gov.ph/non-food/coconut. on 13 July 2021
Ghosh, S. 2019. Coconut production in India on a high growth phase Accessed Through https://www.indoasiancommodities.com/2019/06/05/coconut-production-india-high-growth-phase/ on 13 July 2021
Sri Lanka Export Development Board. 2020. Coconut Export Performance accessed via https://www.srilankabusiness.com/coconut/about/export-performance.html on 13 July 2021
Good amount of information concerning coconut… need a pdf soft copy.
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