US Surpasses China to Become Vietnam’s Largest Coconut Import Market

In the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam’s coconut exports brought in more than $306 million, up 40% year-on-year. Among this, the US surpasses China to become Vietnam’s largest coconut import market, reaching $82 million-double the previous year and accounting for nearly 27% of the total. This marks the first time the US has overtaken China in this sector, underscoring the surging demand for fresh coconuts in the US retail and beverage industries.

In July alone, the US imported over $14 million worth of coconuts, a 2.3-fold increase compared to last year. Meanwhile, China, which had long been Vietnam’s top market, recorded nearly $67 million, with its share falling to about 22%. This shift demonstrates how the US surpasses China to become Vietnam’s largest coconut import market, reshaping the country’s coconut trade dynamics.

Diverse Export Markets with the US Leading the Way

Beyond the US and China, several markets posted impressive growth. Australia rose by more than 77%, the UAE doubled, Spain more than doubled, Puerto Rico jumped nearly eightfold, and Cambodia skyrocketed by 690 times. However, exports to Thailand and South Korea declined sharply.

Nguyen Dinh Tung, CEO of Vina T&T, noted that his company ships about 80-90 containers of fruit to the US each month by sea and an additional 60-70 tons by air, with coconuts accounting for a large share. “Orders remain stable, with demand strong. Exports to the US are up about 25% from last year and have not yet been significantly impacted by monetary or tariff policies,” he said.

According to Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit Association (Vinafruit), demand for coconuts in the US, China, and the Middle East is booming, while global supply remains limited. Since the US opened its doors to Vietnamese fresh coconuts in 2023, exporters have quickly expanded, diversified products, and improved packaging, enabling Vietnam to secure a competitive edge.

Imports Also Rise as Exports Grow

To meet processing demand, Vietnam has also increased coconut imports. In the first seven months, import turnover reached over $31 million, up 20-fold year-on-year, mostly from Indonesia and some from Papua New Guinea.Domestically, coconut prices hit record highs, ranging from 18,500 to 19,000 VND per fruit in the first half of the year. Premium coconuts retail for 25,000 VND, six times higher than four years ago. High prices have encouraged farmers to expand cultivation to over 200,000 hectares nationwide, producing about 2 million tons annually. The number of processing factories has also surged from 8 in 2015 to 45 in 2024 driven by major enterprises. However, cultivation area and productivity have yet to keep pace, leading to fierce competition for raw materials. The Vietnam Coconut Association advises farmers to select export-friendly varieties to avoid oversupply risks when markets fluctuate.