Coconut Market News 14th September 2026

The coconut market restarts after the holidays across the European Union, with rising Philippine raw-material prices, steady desiccated coconut export prices, and a coconut oil market that is still hesitant to attract significant immediate buying. The main European summer holidays are now over; buyers and traders are returning to their routines. As a result, we anticipate more price discovery and higher trading activity in the coming weeks, especially as buyers review their Q4 needs and early 2027 coverage.

Coconut Oil

European coconut oil remains relatively subdued. For the week ending 5 September, UCAP reported Rotterdam coconut oil sellers at $2,055–2,080/MT CIF, with the nearest-forward statistical average at $2,075.20/MT, just $2 below the previous week. Buying interest was notably concentrated in early-2027 positions rather than nearby Q4 requirements, with closing bids reported at $2,030–2,050/MT for January through April positions.

The latest PCA daily report, dated 11 September, puts European coconut oil at $2,090/MT CIF, indicating some firmness since the UCAP reporting week. Philippine crude coconut oil was quoted at ₱110.32–129.36/kg, VAT inclusive. September_11_2026.pdfPDF

The more important underlying development is copra. Average Philippine millgate copra reached ₱52.75/kg, up from ₱52.20 a week earlier and ₱50.08 a month earlier. Farmgate averaged ₱41.36/kg. Both remain dramatically below September 2025 levels, however, with millgate prices down roughly 28% year-on-year. This suggests some recent raw-material tightening, but nothing resembling last year’s extreme market.

Desiccated Coconut

Desiccated coconut remains remarkably static internationally on the Rotterdam market*. Philippine export sellers continue to quote a very broad 109–190¢/lb FOB range for the US, Europe and other markets — a range that UCAP says has now remained unchanged for 30 consecutive weeks. The statistical midpoint was 136¢/lb FOB.

The domestic market is showing more movement. Manila DC increased to ₱5,618–5,930 per 100-lb bag, from ₱5,562–5,871 the previous week, with the weekly average rising ₱57.50 to ₱5,774.

With Europe now returning from the summer holiday period, this prolonged stability could be tested. More enquiries, trades and therefore more meaningful price changes should emerge as European buyers establish their Q4 and 2027 positions.

Container Freight — Drewry

Drewry’s latest World Container Index was unchanged for a second consecutive week at $4,476 per 40ft container. More relevant to Philippine exporters, Shanghai–Rotterdam declined 2% to $3,997/40ft, while Shanghai–Genoa fell 3% to $4,216.

There is nevertheless little reason for exporters to become complacent about freight. Drewry reports 79 blank sailings across the major East-West trades during weeks 38–42, with carriers increasing capacity management ahead of China’s Golden Week. Houthi Advance Raises Shipping Risk

The recent Houthi advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and onto strategic islands around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait represents a significant new risk for container shipping. The group has strengthened its position around the southern gateway to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, increasing the possibility of renewed disruption to vessels using this critical Asia–Europe route. AP News

While some container capacity had begun returning to the Red Sea, the latest escalation could cause carriers to reconsider these transits and maintain or increase diversions around the Cape of Good Hope. Xeneta

This would lengthen Asia–Europe voyages, absorb additional vessel capacity and increase fuel and insurance costs, potentially putting renewed upward pressure on freight rates. Drewry’s latest WCI remains at $4,476 per 40ft container, but the Houthi situation now creates considerable upside risk to shipping costs—particularly relevant for Philippine coconut products moving into Europe.

Wider Edible Oils

Coconut oil continues to command a very substantial premium over mainstream vegetable oils. UCAP calculated its premium over palm oil at approximately $563/MT, while CNO and palm kernel oil were effectively at parity for the nearest position. Meanwhile, expectations for a 12% increase in global sunflower seed production to more than 62 million tonnes in 2026/27 could maintain downward pressure on sunflower oil. Against this background, coconut oil remains expensive relative to competing edible oils.

Outlook

September should provide a better indication of genuine demand than the holiday-thinned August market. With European participants returning, Philippine copra prices firming and freight capacity being actively managed, we expect increased trading and greater price movement in both coconut oil and desiccated coconut as Q4 buying develops.

*A note on Rotterdam coconut oil prices

The Rotterdam market is now used relatively infrequently for physical coconut oil trading. A substantial proportion of international business is conducted privately between Philippine millers, major commodity traders and industrial buyers and is therefore not visible in published market data.

Consequently, a quiet Rotterdam market should not be interpreted as an absence of underlying business. We continue to report these prices because they remain one of the few transparent international reference points available, alongside our own market intelligence and direct trading activity.