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Coconut Crisis Grips South India as Prices Surge Amid Supply Woes
6 Sep
Summary
- Coconut prices have surged from Rs 15-25 to Rs 80-100 in South India
- Supply chain disruptions, climate change, and pests have exacerbated the shortage
- India, the world's largest producer, faces a global crisis affecting prices and supply
As of September 6th, 2025, a severe coconut crisis has gripped much of South India, with prices surging from just Rs 15-25 per coconut two years ago to a staggering Rs 80-100 currently. This dramatic price hike is the result of a perfect storm of pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions, climate change impacts, and devastating pest infestations that have crippled the region's coconut industry.
The crisis began in 2020-21 when the COVID-19 pandemic led to a collapse in tender coconut sales, resulting in a glut of over-mature nuts by 2022-23. This, in turn, caused prices to crash, discouraging farmers from properly caring for their plantations. Meanwhile, extreme weather events, including heavy rains, droughts, and heatwaves, have taken a heavy toll on coconut crops across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, with pests damaging up to 40% of the yields in some areas.
The shortage of coconuts has had a ripple effect, leading to scarcities of essential coconut-derived products like copra, oil, and fresh nuts. This has impacted both consumers and businesses reliant on these commodities. Despite being the world's largest producer, India is now facing a global crisis that is affecting prices and supply across the region.
