Chairman Shantha Ranathunga said the sector achieved strong growth despite global challenges, including disruptions to international shipping routes caused by the conflict in the Middle East, as well as rising freight, fuel, and insurance costs.
He attributed the positive performance to higher domestic coconut production and growing international demand for Sri Lankan coconut-based products.
However, Ranathunga noted that exports of fresh king coconuts declined by nearly 33%, mainly due to external market conditions. He explained that around 95% of Sri Lanka’s king coconut exports are destined for the Dubai market, leaving the sector vulnerable to disruptions affecting that destination.
Despite the decline in king coconut exports, the overall industry recorded strong growth across several value-added product categories, including coconut kernel products, coir-based products, and coconut shell-based exports, all of which contributed to the increase in export earnings.
