Market research

Copra market in Central America

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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"Central America" region includes following countries:

Belize

Costa Rica

El Salvador

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Earlier Report Observations

Central American copra production began the period at 241.7 thousand tons in 2018, edging down slightly to 240.2 thousand tons in 2019, a level of market stabilization. Underlying this stability were structural constraints noted in the sector, including an aging coconut palm stock and low investment levels, which limited expansion potential. Production remained concentrated in a few key regions where unmet demand for derivative products like cosmetic oils persisted.

The market grew to 243.5 thousand tons in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic shifted consumption patterns and boosted demand for online purchases of copra-based goods. More significantly, rising demand for animal products increased the use of copra meal in livestock feed, supporting production volumes. This growth paused in 2021, with output holding at 243.4 thousand tons, as international trade restrictions and pandemic-related logistical disruptions limited market expansion.

A renewed increase followed, with production reaching 247.0 thousand tons in 2022 and 248.9 thousand tons in 2023. This steady rise was driven by continued global demand for animal feed ingredients. However, the market's growth trajectory continued to be moderated by long-term domestic challenges, particularly the aging palm plantations and limited new investment in the sector.

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 Central America
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Central America 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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belize in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belize in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Belize by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ 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 copra in Central America

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of copra, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of copra, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2019, copra production in Central America saw its largest decline of 0.6%. This was followed by a significant increase of 1.7% in 2018. In 2020, production reached 243.5 thousand tonnes, marking a 1.4% advance from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, overall production grew by 2.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Central America in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.7%	(0.6%)	1.4%	0.8%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports copra from Central America

Exports in kind, kg

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, $ US

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Central America in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports copra to Central America

Imports in kind, kg

In 2019, copra imports into Central America from abroad totaled 4.48 kilograms, remaining broadly stable compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2019, imports surged by 513%, which equates to an annualized growth rate of 83.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020, kg

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United States was the primary supplier of copra to Central America, consistently accounting for 7.4% of total imports in kind.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, $ US

In 2019, Central America's copra import volume amounted to 5 US dollars, showing only a marginal fluctuation from the prior year. Between 2017 and 2019, imports decreased by 82.4%, representing an annualized decline of 43.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020, $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the period from 2017 to 2020, the United States was the largest destination for copra imports in value terms to Central America, capturing 85.0% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Central America in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io