Vadakara: Coir products have significantly outpaced coconut products in exports, driven by strong global demand and rising prices.

In 2025, India exported coir products worth $61.2 crore (approximately ₹5,600 crore), compared to ₹4,349 crore worth of coconut products exported in 2024–25. The sharp rise marks a major shift in the sector’s export performance.

The surge in coir exports is attributed to unprecedented international demand and a steep increase in prices. Export value has grown by nearly 70% in a single year. In 2024, coir product exports stood at $35.8 crore (around ₹3,300 crore), meaning an increase of $25.4 crore (₹2,300 crore) within a year.

According to the March review report of the International Coconut Community (ICC), India emerged as the world’s top-performing country in coir exports in 2025. While Sri Lanka and Indonesia also recorded growth, their performance lagged behind India’s. Sri Lanka registered a 21% increase, compared with India’s 70%.

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A key driver of this growth is coir pith, which accounts for nearly 85% of India’s total coir export earnings. The year 2025 has seen a significant boom in both the volume and value of coir pith exports. A total of 9.54 lakh tonnes were exported, valued at $48.69 crore (approximately ₹4,500 crore). In 2024, exports stood at 7.32 lakh tonnes, valued at $26.21 crore. While volumes increased by about 30%, the value rose by 85%, reflecting a sharp rise in global prices.

The ICC report highlights sustained international demand for coir pith, which is increasingly used as a growing medium in commercial plantations and modern farming techniques such as hydroponics. Although exports of some coir products have declined, the strong performance of coir pith has more than offset the shortfall.

Hope for farmers

The export boom is also generating optimism among coconut farmers. Rising global demand for activated charcoal has increased the value of coconut shells, even in rural areas, with collection groups actively sourcing them from households.

A similar trend is now emerging in the coir sector. Manufacturers are sourcing coir from rural regions that previously treated it as agricultural waste. Farmers are now earning between ₹70 and ₹100 for coir derived from 100 coconuts, providing an additional source of income.