In the southern province of Vinh Long, traders are paying farmer Hoang VND40,000 (US$1.52) for a dozen nuts compared to a record VND100,000-130,000 in August.
“For most of this year coconut farmers like me have been reaping strong profits, but in recent months demand has dropped, sending prices plunging,” Hoang said.
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A farmer stands next to a coconut tree in the Mekong Delta Region, Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Dang Khoa |
Cao Ba Dang Khoa, vice chairman and secretary general of the Vietnam Coconut Association, said this year many exporters shipped large quantities to China without proper quality control, leading to containers with varying sizes and flavors.
“Some were rejected, forcing businesses to sell the coconuts cheaply at home,” he added.
He said during a recent trip to China, he was told by representatives of the Pingxiang City Fruit Association that many shipments of Vietnamese coconuts were returned due to uneven sweetness and lack of traceability information.
“Customers in Shanghai or Beijing are willing to pay high prices for coconuts, but if quality is unstable, Vietnamese companies will struggle to sustain their business there.”
The Vietnam Coconut Association said international markets have increasingly stringent standards for fresh coconuts unlike processed items.
Fresh coconuts now retail for some VND90,000 in Beijing and up to VND120,000 in the U.S., and so importers only buy produce from internationally certified farms.
Domestically, coconut cultivation remain largely unplanned, leading to an oversupply of average quality fruits but a shortage of export-grade ones.
Khoa recommended reorganizing growing regions, applying traceability technology and clearly labeling plantation codes.
“Thailand can sell fresh coconuts to Europe for as much as $4.39 each because its plantations are tightly regulated.
“Vietnam must follow this path to achieve sustainable competitiveness.”
In the first nine months of 2025 fresh coconut exports increased by 17% year-on-year to $138 million, according to Vietnam Customs.
Processed coconuts brought in an additional $260 million, a 55% increase.
But as prices plummet, the number of coconut trading businesses has dropped by about 30%, signaling a period of industry consolidation.
