THE Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is optimistic that export earnings from coconut-based products in 2026 could surpass the record $3.57 billion last year despite the threats posed by El Niño on plantations.
PCA Head Executive Assistant Joseph Cezar Deligero said the agency is banking on a raft of government interventions to prevent a plunge in productivity, which could affect coconut shipments, the country’s top farm export.
This, after coconut productivity fell by around 20 percent in 2024 when the Philippines was hit by the dry spell.
‘We’re hoping that [productivity] won’t drop that much this year, given the activities in place based on our learnings from the previous El Niño in 2024,’ Deligero told reporters.
He noted that the PCA has ventured into solar drip irrigation programs while continuously working with both cooperatives and other government agencies for mitigation measures, among others.
‘We’re still positive that we’ll be able to surpass our 2025 export [earnings],’ Deligero said.
Meanwhile, he also allayed concerns on the impact of coconut scale insect (CSI) or cocolisap’s infestation on production, which tends to intensity during extreme heat.
‘With the threat of the super El Niño, we’re anticipating an increase in pest infestations. But our research centers and regional offices are preparing for this,’ he said, noting the agency’s integrated pest management nationwide.
‘We have agriculturists and researchers on the ground who’ve done assessments to check vulnerable areas in the country and provide additional strategies to mitigate pest infestations.’
Last year, the value of coconut-based exports jumped by over a third to $3.57 billion from $2.66 billion in 2024, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which was the all-time high since its time series started in 2006.
Shipments of coconut oil accounted for the bulk of revenues, as it surged by 29.4 percent to $2.87 billion, a new record-high from the $2.22 billion recorded in 2024.
The average price of coconut oil soared by 63.27 percent to $2,480 per metric ton (MT) in 2025 from $1,519 per MT a year ago, according to the World Bank.
Industry sources expect coconut output to rebound this year, owing to the recovery of trees and the absence of destructive typhoons in 2025.