The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
RECEIPTS from coconut-based exports declined by 2.1 percent in February because of lower revenues from coconut oil—the country’s top farm export, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported.
PSA figures showed the value of coconut-based exports declined to $569.25 million from the previous year’s $581.43 million.
Coconut oil accounted for the bulk of shipments at $442.97 million, down by 11.6 percent from $501.37 million recorded in the same period in 2025, Business Mirror quoted the PSA report.
Despite the downtrend in earnings, PSA data showed that export revenues from other coconut-based products grew on an annual basis.
The country’s outbound shipments of copra meal or cake jumped threefold to $24.89 million from last year’s $8.01 million.
Export earnings from desiccated coconut soared by 47.8 percent to $85.76 million in the reference period from $58.04 million in 2025, based on PSA data.
Revenues from other coconut products went up by 11.5 percent to $15.63 million from $14.01 million.
The United Coconut Association of the Philippines (UCAP) had warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict could dampen demand for coconut oil.
UCAP chair Marco Reyes noted that the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would cause a spike in crude oil prices.
“Then, vegetable oil prices, like coconut, will go up, global inflation increases, purchasing power comes down, and demand comes down. But if resolved soon, those fears will not happen,” Reyes told mediamen.
PSA data also showed that the country’s revenues from fruits and vegetables exports in February jumped by 21.1 percent to $493.26 million from $407.44 million a year ago.
Banana shipments led the category, as these inched up by 7.6 percent to $244.68 million from last year’s $227.31 million.
All exports of pineapple-based products posted increments as of February, according to PSA data.
Shipments of canned pineapple rose by 42.7 percent to $52.5 million from $36.8 million, while those of pineapple juice surged by 75.5 percent to $30.54 million from $17.41 million.Revenues from exports of pineapple concentrates more than doubled to $6.75 million from $2.78 million in the previous year.