The Philippine government is ramping up efforts to revive the country’s coconut industry, with the goal of becoming the world’s top exporter of coconut products. The country’s strategy is supported by strong local production areas, including Quezon Province, Philippines, which remains one of the top coconut-producing provinces in the country.
Finance Secretary Frederick Go, who also chairs the Coconut Levy Fund, said the administration is working closely with industry stakeholders to unlock the sector’s full potential.
Speaking at the ASEAN Editors & Economic Opinion Leaders Forum in Makati City on February 24, Go emphasized that the Philippines has both the supply and the opportunity to lead the global market.
“I think the data today shows that we are the second largest exporter of coconuts to the world. I think there’s a lot of opportunity here to really become maybe the leader in the coconut industry in the world,” he said.
Leveraging the Coconut Levy Fund
Central to the government’s strategy is the Coconut Levy Fund, which Go described as having a “huge budget” dedicated to supporting coconut farmers and strengthening the industry.
According to him, the administration is engaging stakeholders across the coconut value chain to identify collaborative strategies that would modernize production, improve yields, and expand export competitiveness.
The fund, sourced from levies collected from coconut farmers during previous administrations, is intended to directly benefit the sector through replanting programs, infrastructure, research, and farmer support initiatives.
Production Data Shows Mixed Trends
Latest figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority show that coconut production reached 4.022 million metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2025. This reflected a 3.5% decline compared to 4.018 million metric tons recorded in the same period the previous year.
For the full year, however, output slightly improved. Total coconut production in 2025 stood at 14.506 million metric tons, marginally higher than the 14.500 million metric tons recorded in 2024.
Despite short-term fluctuations, government officials remain optimistic that with sustained investment and industry collaboration, the Philippines can strengthen its position and potentially reclaim global leadership in coconut exports.
