The Philippines is doubling down on its coconut replanting efforts, targeting to plant up to 50 million trees in 2026 to reclaim its position as the world’s top coconut producer.
While the Philippines remains the world’s top exporter of coconut products, it now trails Indonesia in total production. Indonesia produced 17.13 million metric tons in 2024 compared to the Philippines’ 14.77 million.
“The initial target for next year was 25 million trees. The president has allocated additional funds for this, and we will involve coconut farming communities to fast-track the production of planting materials,” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel.
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) said the move is part of a five-year replanting program launched in 2023 that seeks to plant 100 million coconut trees by 2028.
The aggressive push comes amid soaring global demand for coconut oil, buoyed by the European Union’s plan to phase out palm oil imports by 2030 due to sustainability concerns.
With palm oil under pressure, coconut oil, perceived as a more eco-friendly alternative, is gaining ground, alongside rising global demand for fresh coconut water as a health drink.
The replanting initiative also aims to address declining yields from the country’s 340 million existing coconut trees, many of which are aging or senile, producing just 40 nuts a year, a third of their potential.
A P1.8 billion fertilization program will deploy agricultural-grade salt (AGSF) to boost yields to at least 60 nuts per tree annually.
“While we wait for the new trees to mature, we’re focusing on improving the productivity of existing ones to increase farmers’ income,” Tiu Laurel said.
Part of the 2026 budget will go toward procuring AGSF from local sources, in line with a newly passed law to revive the Philippine salt industry.
