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Export coconuts and copra

Husked coconuts, desiccated coconut and edible copra, mainly to the UAE, the USA, the UK and neighbours. Register with the Coconut Development Board.

Free to exportHS 0801.19
HS code
0801.19
Coconuts: desiccated (0801 11), in the inner shell (0801 12), other — fresh, dried (0801 19); and copra, the dried kernel (1203). Coconut oil is under 1513.
Export policy
Free to export
Export of coconuts and copra is listed as Free in ITC(HS) Schedule 2 as far as we could check; copra imports are restricted, not exports. Confirm current status on dgft.gov.in.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 168 mn
to 75 countries

What is exported

Exports under 0801 11–19 and 1203 were about US$ 168 million in 2025-26 (TradeStat). The UAE took over 40%, followed by the USA, the UK, Nepal, Bangladesh, Qatar and Oman. Buyers are Indian and South Asian grocery importers, bakery and confectionery makers (desiccated coconut) and sweet makers (ball copra).

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Husked and semi-husked mature coconutsFor grocery buyers who grate or press the kernel.
  • Tender coconutTrimmed and wrapped for drinking; short shelf life, reefer only.
  • Desiccated coconutFine, medium or chips; for bakery and confectionery.
  • Ball (edible) copra and milling copraBall copra for sweets and cooking; milling copra for oil.

Where it is grown or made

  • KeralaKozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur — desiccated coconut and coconut products.
  • Tamil NaduPollachi, Coimbatore, Thanjavur — husked coconuts and copra.
  • KarnatakaTiptur and Tumakuru — ball copra.
  • Andhra PradeshKonaseema (East Godavari).

Season

Coconuts are harvested year-round; copra drying is easiest in the dry months (about January–May).

Export packing

  • Coconuts in mesh or jute bags of 20–25 nuts, or cartons; ventilated or reefer containers.
  • Desiccated coconut in 25 kg multi-wall paper bags with poly liner; copra in jute bags or cartons.

Who buys abroad

  • Indian and South Asian grocery importers and distributors
  • Supermarket and hypermarket chains in the Gulf
  • Bakery, confectionery and sweet makers

The quality buyers ask for

Husked coconuts
Weight per nut band, no cracks, intact eyes, water inside
Copra
Moisture, oil content, mould and aflatoxin limits
Desiccated coconut
Moisture, fat, free fatty acids, granulation (fine/medium), microbiology

Certificates

  • Coconut Development Board registrationRequiredRCMC for coconut products.
  • Phytosanitary certificateRequiredIssued by Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) for each consignment after inspection; apply on PQMS.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where food is packed or stored for export.
  • HACCPOften askedFood-safety plan for the processing unit; most importers ask for it.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedOnly if sold as organic: NPOP certification from an accredited body plus the market’s own organic rules.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

A 40-ft container typically holds about 25,000–28,000 husked nuts; desiccated coconut about 18–20 tonnes in bags.

How it travels

Sea from Kochi, Tuticorin, Chennai or JNPA; road to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Storage

Coconuts in ventilated or cool storage; copra and desiccated coconut dry and sealed.

Shelf life

Husked nuts typically a few weeks; desiccated coconut about 6–12 months.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bulk bags and cartons: product and grade, crop year, lot number, net and gross weight, "Product of India", exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks, matching the invoice and packing list exactly.
  • Gulf countries: Arabic text (Arabic plus English is normal), production and expiry dates, net weight, country of origin and importer details. Confirm current rules with your importer.
  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): food name, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions, EU importer’s name and address, and origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
Where to get it tested

Use a laboratory on APEDA’s list of recognised laboratories (apeda.gov.in → Recognised Organisations), an FSSAI-notified lab, or a lab accredited by NABL for the test (nabl-india.org). Ask the buyer which reports they accept before sending samples.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • Coconut Development BoardRegistration with the Coconut Development Board, which issues the RCMC for all coconut products other than those made from husk and fibre.coconutboard.gov.in ↗
  • FSSAIFood business licence. FSSAI puts food exporters under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS for the premises you pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗
  • Plant Quarantine (DPPQS)Phytosanitary certificate for each consignment of plant produce, applied for online on PQMS. Some markets also want the packhouse or processing unit registered.pqms.cgg.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • A phytosanitary certificate from Plant Quarantine for every consignment; some markets add treatment or pest-free-area conditions — check the importing country’s rules first.
  • Husked coconuts: uniform size and weight, no cracks, no sprouting and no water loss; copra: moisture, oil content, mould and aflatoxin.
  • Desiccated coconut is a processed food: buyers check moisture, free fatty acids, residual sulphite and microbiology, and expect FSSAI and food-safety certification.
How to start small

Start with semi-husked coconuts from Pollachi, Tiptur or Kerala in a ventilated or reefer container to a Gulf grocery importer, or a pallet of ball copra to an Indian grocer in the UK or USA. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27); registrations required by a law still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Shipping coconuts in a closed dry box in summer — nuts crack and ferment; use ventilation or reefers.
  • Mouldy copra with aflatoxin — dry quickly and store dry.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. Department of Commerce — TradeStat, India’s exports by commodity and country (2025-26)
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T, export promotion councils, boards and the products they cover (as on 6 Feb 2023)
  3. Coconut Development Board — registration of exporters of coconut products
  4. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
  5. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian coconuts and copra exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 168 mn
+20.5% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +37.3%
US$ 123 mn → US$ 168 mn
Buyer countries
75
Average export price
US$ 1.13
per kg · 1,49,125 tonnes shipped · US$ 0.87 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 70.7 mnUnited States of America: US$ 15.3 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 9.9 mnNepal: US$ 9 mnBangladesh: US$ 7.4 mnQatar: US$ 3.8 mnOman: US$ 3.5 mnIran: US$ 3.4 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 3.4 mnVietnam: US$ 3.4 mnNetherlands: US$ 3.4 mnCanada: US$ 3.3 mnKuwait: US$ 2.9 mnAustralia: US$ 2.8 mnIraq: US$ 2.7 mnSpain: US$ 2.7 mnSingapore: US$ 1.9 mnBahrain: US$ 1.7 mnTürkiye: US$ 1.4 mnMauritius: US$ 1.2 mnPeru: US$ 1 mnMaldives: US$ 880kFrance: US$ 870kUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 70.7 mnUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of America: US$ 15.3 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Kingdom: US$ 9.9 mnUnited KingdomNepal: US$ 9 mnNepalBangladesh: US$ 7.4 mnBangladeshQatar: US$ 3.8 mnOman: US$ 3.5 mnIran: US$ 3.4 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 3.4 mnVietnam: US$ 3.4 mnVietnamNetherlands: US$ 3.4 mnCanada: US$ 3.3 mnKuwait: US$ 2.9 mnAustralia: US$ 2.8 mnIraq: US$ 2.7 mnSpain: US$ 2.7 mnSingapore: US$ 1.9 mnBahrain: US$ 1.7 mnTürkiye: US$ 1.4 mnMauritius: US$ 1.2 mnPeru: US$ 1 mnMaldives: US$ 880kFrance: US$ 870kIndia
Where Indian coconuts and copra goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 66.3 mn662020-212021-22: US$ 89.1 mn892021-222022-23: US$ 82.9 mn832022-232023-24: US$ 111 mn1112023-242024-25: US$ 123 mn1232024-252025-26: US$ 168 mn1682025-26
India’s coconuts and copra exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2025-26, lowest in 2022-23 — a 36% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.09 per kg2021-22: US$ 1.00 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.83 per kg0.832024-25: US$ 0.87 per kg2025-26: US$ 1.13 per kg1.132020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian coconuts and copra · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 66.3 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 89.1 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 82.9 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 111 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 123 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 168 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 184 mn (US$ 160 mn – US$ 211 mn)1842026-272027-28: US$ 218 mn (US$ 187 mn – US$ 254 mn)2182027-28
India’s coconuts and copra exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 218 mn

Likely range US$ 187 mn to US$ 254 mn.

Trend
+18.4% a year
Fit (R²)
0.93
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United Arab EmiratesUS$ 70.7 mn+36.4%
2United States of AmericaUS$ 15.3 mn+15.4%
3United KingdomUS$ 9.9 mn+39.8%
4NepalUS$ 9 mn+25.5%
5BangladeshUS$ 7.4 mn+53.4%
6QatarUS$ 3.8 mn+23.7%
7OmanUS$ 3.5 mn+27.5%
8IranUS$ 3.4 mn+66.2%
9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 3.4 mn+7.6%
10VietnamUS$ 3.4 mn+109.9%
11NetherlandsUS$ 3.4 mn+143.5%
12CanadaUS$ 3.3 mn+8.9%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. SingaporeUS$ 520k → US$ 1.9 mn+273.1%
  2. NetherlandsUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 3.4 mn+143.5%
  3. VietnamUS$ 1.6 mn → US$ 3.4 mn+109.9%
  4. IraqUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 2.7 mn+78.4%
  5. AustraliaUS$ 1.6 mn → US$ 2.8 mn+74.1%
  6. IranUS$ 2.1 mn → US$ 3.4 mn+66.2%
  7. BangladeshUS$ 4.8 mn → US$ 7.4 mn+53.4%
  8. United KingdomUS$ 7.1 mn → US$ 9.9 mn+39.8%

Low demand

  1. Dominican RepublicUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 1.2 mn-30.2%

New buyers: Countries that bought nothing from India in 2024-25 and did in 2025-26.

  • Syria · US$ 930k

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Coconut fresh excluding desiccated and endocarp0801 19 10 · Nuts, edible, coconuts, fresh or dried, other than desiccated or in the inner shellUS$ 42.6 mn+55.8%54,102 tonnesUS$ 0.79 per kgwas US$ 0.60
Copra — copra1203 00 00US$ 42.2 mn+47.8%16,468 tonnesUS$ 2.56 per kgwas US$ 1.62
Nuts, edible, coconuts, desiccated — coconut desiccated0801 11 00US$ 22.9 mn+19.3%7,210 tonnesUS$ 3.18 per kgwas US$ 2.35
Other coconuts excludingdng fresh and dried and desiccated and endocarp0801 19 90 · Nuts, edible, coconuts, fresh or dried, other than desiccated or in the inner shellUS$ 17 mn+66.1%11,675 tonnesUS$ 1.45 per kgwas US$ 1.25
Nuts, edible, coconuts, in the inner shell — fresh endocarp0801 12 10US$ 14.5 mn+20.6%25,312 tonnesUS$ 0.57 per kgwas US$ 0.50
Nuts, edible, coconuts, in the inner shell — dried endocarp0801 12 20US$ 14.2 mn+15.4%9,292 tonnesUS$ 1.53 per kgwas US$ 0.91
Nuts, edible, coconuts, in the inner shell — other endocarp0801 12 90US$ 10 mn-6.5%22,824 tonnesUS$ 0.44 per kgwas US$ 0.47
Coconut ,dried excluding desiccated and endocarp0801 19 20 · Nuts, edible, coconuts, fresh or dried, other than desiccated or in the inner shellUS$ 4.9 mn+116.7%2,242 tonnesUS$ 2.19 per kgwas US$ 1.48

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 1.62 bn
2023
India among exporters
#5
of 124 countries
India’s share of world exports
6.8%
US$ 110 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 1.52 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ThailandUS$ 454 mn 27.8%
  2. 2IndonesiaUS$ 311 mn 19.1%
  3. 3PhilippinesUS$ 250 mn 15.3%
  4. 4Viet NamUS$ 123 mn 7.5%
  5. 5IndiaUS$ 110 mn 6.8%
  6. 6Sri LankaUS$ 92.2 mn 5.6%
  7. 7NetherlandsUS$ 75 mn 4.6%
  8. 8SingaporeUS$ 33.2 mn 2%
  9. 9GermanyUS$ 23.1 mn 1.4%
  10. 10United Arab EmiratesUS$ 20.3 mn 1.2%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 619 mn 38.3%
  2. 2USAUS$ 141 mn 8.8%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 70.7 mn 4.4%
  4. 4MalaysiaUS$ 58.8 mn 3.6%
  5. 5SingaporeUS$ 48.6 mn 3%
  6. 6GermanyUS$ 44.8 mn 2.8%
  7. 7United Arab EmiratesUS$ 43.9 mn 2.7%
  8. 8ThailandUS$ 41.2 mn 2.5%
  9. 9United KingdomUS$ 37.9 mn 2.3%
  10. 10CanadaUS$ 34.5 mn 2.1%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

ChinaUS$ 497 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 497 mn
United States of AmericaUS$ 170 mnIndia 3% · gap US$ 164 mn
MalaysiaUS$ 90.6 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 90.3 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 73.8 mnIndia 2% · gap US$ 72.3 mn
GermanyUS$ 54 mnIndia 1.5% · gap US$ 53.2 mn
SingaporeUS$ 50.3 mnIndia 1% · gap US$ 49.8 mn
CanadaUS$ 34.2 mnIndia 8.5% · gap US$ 31.3 mn
United KingdomUS$ 37.9 mnIndia 22.1% · gap US$ 29.5 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 43.9 mnIndia 42.8% · gap US$ 25.1 mn
EgyptUS$ 24.7 mnIndia 1.4% · gap US$ 24.3 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export coconuts and copra

India is one of the three largest coconut producers with Indonesia and the Philippines, but exports a small share of its nuts because domestic demand is huge. Exports are mostly fresh husked coconuts and edible copra to the Gulf and South Asia, and desiccated coconut to food makers. Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Indonesia dominate desiccated coconut. Openings: Gulf retail coconuts, ball copra for the diaspora and value-added coconut products.

  1. 01Register

    Get your IEC and Coconut Development Board registration; FSSAI for desiccated coconut and copra packing.

  2. 02Source and grade

    Buy from Pollachi, Tiptur or Kerala aggregators; grade by size and reject cracked nuts.

  3. 03Pack

    Bag or carton the nuts; copra in jute bags; desiccated coconut in lined paper bags.

  4. 04Inspection and phytosanitary certificate

    Apply on PQMS; Plant Quarantine inspects the lot (and fumigation or treatment if the importing country requires it) before issuing the certificate.

  5. 05Agree specification, price and payment

    Put grade, tests, packing, Incoterm (FOB or CIF), shipment period and payment (advance, LC or documents against payment) in a written contract. Cover the buyer with ECGC if you give credit.

  6. 06File the shipping bill and ship

    Your customs broker files the shipping bill on ICEGATE with the invoice and packing list. After customs clearance the line issues the bill of lading; get the certificate of origin from the right agency if the buyer needs a trade-agreement rate.

  7. 07Get paid and close the file

    Send original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). When the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting coconuts and copra

Which board registers coconut exporters?
The Coconut Development Board, for all coconut products except those made from husk and fibre (those go to the Coir Board).
Is copra export allowed?
As far as we could check, export is Free; copra imports are restricted. Confirm on DGFT.
Who buys Indian coconuts?
The UAE takes over 40%; the USA, UK, Nepal, Bangladesh, Qatar and Oman follow (TradeStat, 2025-26).
What RoDTEP do coconuts get?
Fresh coconuts 2.4% of FOB capped at ₹8.5 per kg; copra 0.9% (Appendix 4R).
Do I need an RCMC for a small trial shipment?
Not for a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB since 15 Sep 2026 (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). Registrations that a law requires, such as the Spices Board CRES or Tobacco Board registration, still apply.
Sources (4)
  1. Department of Commerce — TradeStat, India’s exports by commodity and country (2025-26)
  2. Coconut Development Board — registration of exporters of coconut products
  3. DGFT — Appendix 2T, export promotion councils, boards and the products they cover (as on 6 Feb 2023)
  4. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)

Who buys Indian coconuts and copra

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