Coconut, the tree of abundance, drives a global industry in Sri Lanka, where delicious and rejuvenating food and beverages, sustainable horticulture products, and industrial raw materials born from the lush groves that scatter the island.

With a culture that entwines with the coconut tree and a climate that ensures an around the year harvesting, Sri Lanka is the fourthlargest exporters of coconut products to the world. Among the most popular Sri Lankan coconut exports to the global market are desiccated coconut, virgin coconut oil and coconut water, while the country's bristle fibre products manufactured through indigenous 'Drum' extraction method and activated carbon made with coconut shells are also in high demand.

Coconut accounts for approximately 12% of all agricultural produce in Sri Lanka with the total land area under cultivation covering 409, 244 hectares (2017) and about 2,500 -3000 million nuts produced per year (by 2017). New measures have been introduced to enhance the annual coconut crop to 3600 million nuts per year.

Sri Lanka is very popular in the world market for Desiccated Coconut (DC) and Brown fibre. Distinguishable white colour and characteristic taste of Sri Lankan DC ranks Sri Lanka at the 4th position of the world export market for all kernel products. Sri Lanka holds the global No.1 for the exports of brown fiber. The drum system used to extract fiber, produces long pure fiber, which are more suitable for the brush industry.

Coconut Development Authority, Coconut Cultivation Board and Coconut Research Institute are the three major Government Institutions that are responsible for the production & quality improvement, supply development and research respectively.

To ensure the quality of DC exports, the certificate issued by the Coconut Development Authority should be accompanied with each and every shipment. Moreover, the coconut and coconut product manufacturers and suppliers of Sri Lanka are guided by a stringent set of regulations to ensure the quality of their products.

Why Sri Lankan Coconut and Coconut based Products?

Currently, Sri Lanka is the world’s fourth-largest exporter of coconut and coconut-based products. In 2020, Sri Lanka’s coconut and coconut-based products export earnings reached USD 664.58 million. Out of the total coconut and coconut-based product exports in 2020, a little more than half were coconut kernel product exports, a little less than a third were coconut fibre products and the rest were coconut shell products and other products. This is roughly how the composition of Sri Lanka’s coconut product exports is made up. Let’s explore here a few major reasons to source coconut and coconut-based products from Sri Lanka.

SUPERIOR QUALITY
Desiccated coconut from Sri Lanka is celebrated for its fine texture, flavour and lightest colour and is considered the best DC in the global market. As a result, Sri Lankan desiccated coconut is favoured as it’s used in the bakery and confectionery industry for fillings for nut bars, cookies, biscuits, sanding of cakes, pies and other baked goods.

ECO-FRIENDLY CULTIVATION
More than 80% of Sri Lanka’s coconut production comes from small holdings. Compared to commercial cultivation, in coconut smallholdings, insecticide, weedicide and fertiliser usage are almost zero, which means the crop is mainly organic. There is a reduced impact on the environment since there’s very little water and soil pollution. For buyers who insist on eco-friendly cultivations, coconut and coconut-based products from Sri Lanka meet that tough condition to a great extent.

CONTINUOUS INNOVATION
Sri Lankan coconut-based product manufacturers are so remarkably competent in Research and Development thanks to their significant investments in talent and technology that they continue to come up with fabulous innovations favoured by buyers. For instance, Sri Lanka’s coconut kernel product range is as diverse as to include all the products below a few of which are new arrivals.
Desiccated Coconut
Coconut Oil
Coconut Chips
Virgin Coconut Oil
Coconut Milk
Coconut Cream
Coconut Butter
Coconut Flour

Likewise, Sri Lankan coconut product manufacturers continue to make commercially viable innovations in the other coconut product categories in the export mix too.

DEEP EXPERTISE AND CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IN THE INDUSTRY
In 1853, 2,380 tons of coir had been exported from Sri Lanka. Desiccated coconut was first exported from Sri Lanka in 1891 and the total export amount for that year was 189 metric tons. By 1911, that number reached 14,493 metric tons. With such a deep history in the coconut product industry, Sri Lanka’s coconut product manufacturers have accumulated high expertise and conventional wisdom that’s been handed down the generations. This is a major reason behind the superior quality of Coconut based products from Sri Lanka.

STATE-OF-THE-ART MANUFACTURING FACILITIES AND ENGINEERING TALENT
Sri Lanka is one of the leading exporters of the highest quality coconut shell activated carbon, manufacture of which requires advanced manufacturing technologies and superior engineering talent. Thus, Sri Lankan activated carbon suppliers are capable of meeting rigorous quality standards and specifications demanded by the buyers.