VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is intensifying efforts to transform the country’s coconut industry into high-value product streams, following a 34.4% surge in coconut exports, reaching $3.6 billion in 2025.
Accounting for nearly half of the Philippines’ total agro-based exports last year, the coconut sector continues to demonstrate immense potential in generating quality jobs, boosting income for farmers, and strengthening the global presence of Filipino enterprises.
The sector’s strong performance also contributed significantly to the country’s record $84.48 billion total export revenues in 2025 and the continued growth momentum in 2026. Beyond export revenues, the sector serves as an economic lifeline for 2.8 million Filipino farmers.
“The value of our coconut industry lies not only in what we harvest, but in what we create from it. We must maximize its potential by producing competitive, high-value products that generate lasting income for our farmers and local communities,” said DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque during the DTI–Bagong Pilipinas COCONUTPhilippines Trade Fair opening day on August 26.
“Under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., this administration is fully committed to empowering local producers and entrepreneurs through wider market access, enterprise support and market diversification,” Roque added.
Secretary Roque also cited the growing global appetite for Philippine agricultural exports, citing sustained demand for fresh bananas, pineapples, calamansi and ube—which continues to gain rapid popularity across overseas food and beverage markets.
To seize these opportunities, the DTI is connecting coconut enterprises with international buyers through targeted export promotion, business-matching activities, outbound trade missions, and the global network of Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTICs).
“If you want to meet a company or partner in another country, the DTI will help make that connection happen. Our goal is clear: build stronger businesses, improve incomes and generate more quality jobs here in the Philippines,” Secretary Roque stressed.
The participating 300 MSMEs seek to expand opportunities for product development, direct market linkages and commercial partnerships—complementing targeted support programs such as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
Philippine coconut exporters are also set to benefit from the country’s expanding network of free trade agreements (FTAs), including the recently concluded Philippines–Chile FTA negotiations and ongoing trade discussions with the European Union and Canada. “The world already knows the exceptional quality of Philippine coconut products. Now, we must create more Filipino success stories that will bring better lives to our farmers and uplift communities nationwide,” Secretary Roque concluded.
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