Coconut & Edible Oils Market Update 26th January 2026

Desiccated coconut: export range unchanged, local prices edging up

Desiccated coconut remains quite stable. UCAP shows that the export price range has stayed consistent for about 20 weeks at 147–190¢/lb FOB, with current levels around the mid-160s to high-160s. Locally, Manila DC prices are ₱5,324–5,639 per 100-lb bag, slightly higher than last week. Steady demand and disciplined producer selling continue to keep price fluctuations limited.

Coconut oil: Rotterdam quiet, local market steady-to-softer

Internationally, UCAP describes Rotterdam coconut oil as subdued, with buyers mostly sidelined, even though prices firmed up slightly late in the week. The nearest-forward quotes ranged from $2,100 to $2,200 per metric ton CIF. The premium over palm kernel oil remained below $400 per ton for the second consecutive week, which is significant for laurics substitution economics. In the Philippines, UCAP’s local crude coconut oil offers were between ₱110 and ₱129 per kilogram, while RBD coconut oil prices declined to ₱141–143 per kilogram late in the week.

According to PCA’s January 23 snapshot, Europe’s CNO was priced at $2,150 per metric ton CIF. Domestically, PCA showed crude coconut oil millgate prices at ₱135.52–147.84 per kilogram and RBD cooking oil at ₱159.04–162.40 per kilogram, reflecting a market that is well supplied at the refinery level but supported by higher copra input costs.

Copra: tightening nearby supply, firmer bids

In the week ending January 17, UCAP reported Quezon copra offers increasing to ₱6,550–6,900 per 100 kg, with buyers bidding up to ₱6,450–6,800. Outside Quezon, in Bicol, Visayas, and Mindanao, offers ranged from ₱6,450 to ₱6,900, indicating widespread strengthening. This trend reflects typical post-holiday restocking and seasonal supply changes, with traders noting tighter nearby coverage as farmers accelerate sales during the rally.

Broader edible oils: cross-market signals

Palm oil’s tone has been firmer versus early January, supported by biofuel-policy expectations and stronger soybean oil into the week’s close, even as inventories and mandate

Shipping: Far East–Europe rates easing again

Container prices are improving for exporters. Drewry reports a 9% decrease in the Shanghai–Rotterdam rate to $2,510 and an 8% decline in the Shanghai–Genoa rate to $3,520, marking the second week of drops.

While routing still affects costs around the Suez Canal and Cape of Good Hope, the short-term outlook is positive: lower freight rates help offset high raw material costs for European buyers. Market headlines are driven by these trends. For coconut, regional demand from value-added processing—especially in Indonesia and the Pacific—could increase competition for raw nuts and by-products, impacting copra availability and prices into Q2.

Note:The Rotterdam market is rarely used nowadays. Most transactions are handled directly by major commodities traders, typically known as ABCD—Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus, with Wilmar also being a significant player. These firms buy directly from millers in the Philippines, thus bypassing the Rotterdam market. When we refer to a quiet market, it doesn’t necessarily mean no business is being done; rather, it is just not publicly disclosed. Therefore, it shouldn’t be seen as an indicator of the market’s overall health or future direction. The UCAP in the Philippines relies on this information for its market forecasts, as it is the only available resource. We also pass this information on as part of our many information sources, noting that we do not have access to private trades beyond our own.