Top Coconut Oil Producing Countries

Coconut oil, prized for its culinary, cosmetic, and industrial uses, is primarily produced in tropical countries where coconut palms thrive. The top producers are the Philippines, Indonesia, and India, collectively accounting for the vast majority of global output. Historically, coconut oil production began in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent, where coconuts have been cultivated for thousands of years. The oil was traditionally extracted by grating and pressing the copra (dried coconut meat), a method still used in many rural areas. With European colonial expansion in the 19th century, coconut plantations and oil production spread throughout the tropics, especially in Africa and the Caribbean, to meet growing demand for soap and industrial lubricants. Today, modern mechanical extraction and refining techniques have increased efficiency, but the industry remains a vital source of livelihood for millions of smallholder farmers in the leading producing countries.

Data from United Nations FAO Stat