Market research

Coconuts market in Eastern Africa

Release date: Mar 27, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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"Eastern Africa" region includes following countries:

British Indian Ocean Territory

Burundi

Comoros

Mayotte

Ethiopia

Eritrea

French Southern Territories

Djibouti

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Reunion

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Zimbabwe

South Sudan

Uganda

Tanzania

Zambia

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the coconut market volume in Eastern Africa declined from 1 098 thousand tonnes to 1 042 thousand tonnes. In 2018, the government launched a $150 million program to promote coconut farming, aiming to reduce the edible oil deficit by planting the high-yielding East Africa Tall variety. However, starting in 2019, production was hit by diseases like lethal yellowing and a severe lack of expert assistance and extension services, which reduced yields and market volume.

After a slight further decrease to 1 022 thousand tonnes in 2021, the market recovered to 1 037 thousand tonnes in 2022 and reached 1 097 thousand tonnes in 2023. This recovery coincided with continued government distribution of improved coconut varieties and the development of value-added products from coconut husks, such as ropes and carpets, adding economic value to the crop.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Eastern Africa
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2018-2023, K t
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from British Indian Ocean Territory by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production coconuts in Eastern Africa

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of coconuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of coconuts, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Eastern Africa's coconut production has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 1 041 thousand tonnes of coconuts, marking a controlled decrease of 4.1% from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 12.1%, which translates to an average annual decline of 4.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(7.4%)	(1.0%)	(4.1%)	(4.2%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports coconuts from Eastern Africa

Exports in kind, t

The market exhibited volatility during the observed period. Import levels varied significantly, with a 3.8-fold difference between the low in 2019 and the high in 2020. In 2020, Eastern Africa exported 640 tonnes of coconuts, showing a sharp year-on-year increase of 276.3%. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2019 at 170 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 40.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(32.2%)	(40.6%)	276.3%	14.9%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Eastern Africa's coconut exports in kind were distributed across a diverse range of partner countries. South Africa accounted for 35.2% of exports, the Netherlands for 6.1%, and Switzerland for 5.2%. Together, these three countries represented 46.5% of the total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Export volumes in value terms reached their lowest point in 2019 and peaked in 2020, with a top-to-bottom ratio of 7.2 times. In 2020, Eastern Africa's coconut export value totaled 1 007 thousand US dollars, reflecting a substantial gain of 617.2% compared to 2019. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 140 thousand US dollars, which also experienced the largest decline of 74.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	189.4%	(74.6%)	617.2%	74.1%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, South Africa contributed 25.9% of exports in value terms, Hong Kong 20.4%, and China 9.3%. Collectively, these three countries accounted for 55.6% of the total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports coconuts to Eastern Africa

Imports in kind, t

Eastern Africa's coconut imports in kind have decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 688 tonnes, indicating a drop of 14.9% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports fell by 19.7%, equating to an average annual decline of 7.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020, t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.0%)	(2.8%)	(14.9%)	(7.0%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017–2020, India led coconut imports in kind to Eastern Africa with a 49.0% share, followed by Indonesia at 17.0% and South Africa at 12.5%. Together, these three countries accounted for 78.4% of the total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Eastern Africa imported coconuts worth 2 244 thousand US dollars, which is 18.0% more than the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 12.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of -4.3%. The minimum value was recorded in 2019 at 1 901 thousand US dollars, while the maximum was in 2018 at 2 735 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, at 30.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	6.8%	(30.5%)	18.0%	(4.3%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India was the principal source for imports in value terms with a 31.2% share, followed by Indonesia at 25.0% and South Africa at 24.8%. Together, these three countries made up 81.0% of the total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Eastern Africa in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io