Huge jump in coconut oil – retail price crosses Rs 400

18-Jun-2025 11:05 AM

Kochi. Due to a severe shortage of milling copra and a sharp rise in prices, the retail price of coconut oil has surged to Rs 410 per litre. In the past week alone, the price has increased by a significant Rs 80 per litre.

According to the President of the Cochin Oil Merchants Association (COMA), the sharp decline in the production of milling copra has caused a steep rise in its prices, leading to a corresponding jump in the cost of coconut oil.

However, this price hike has slowed down trade, and demand has dropped by 10–20 percent. Traditional consumers of coconut oil are now turning to more affordable alternatives, including palmolein and sunflower oil.

Refined palmolein is currently priced at Rs 130 per litre, and sunflower oil at Rs 150 per litre. Coconut oil is a primary edible oil in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu.

Copra prices are also witnessing a rising trend. In Kerala, the price has reached Rs 231 per kg, and in Tamil Nadu, Rs 227 per kg.

According to COMA, edible oil imports may become more expensive due to a potential increase in sea transportation costs caused by the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.

Meanwhile, there is growing concern over adulteration in coconut oil production. The use of low-quality or fungus-infected copra is reportedly increasing, posing serious health risks.

COMA has urged the government to take immediate steps to curb the sale of adulterated coconut oil in the domestic market and to lift the current ban on the import of coconut oil and copra.