Community collection hubs target coconut glut

PUBLISHED : 5 Jul 2026 at 06:42

The Aromatic Coconut Central Market Community Enterprise, known as Coconut Breeze, in Ratchaburi will strengthen the aromatic coconut industry across the value chain, advocates say.

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun on Saturday visited the site in Damnoen Saduak district to monitor progress, meeting growers and local entrepreneurs to discuss support measures.

She said the ministry, with government agencies, the private sector and farmers, was promoting community collection centres as hubs for collecting, grading, processing and marketing quality produce while linking farmers to domestic and international buyers.

Oversupply in recent years has pressured prices. As an immediate response, the Internal Trade Department was instructed to buy produce at leading-market prices, while private-sector partners purchased more than 10 million coconuts. However, with supply reaching about 2 million coconuts a day, broader structural support was needed.

Ratchaburi has been designated as the pilot province for the collection-centre model, which is planned for expansion to Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Nakhon Pathom and other growing areas.

Ms Suphajee said inspections of processing plants had been intensified after risks of raw-material adulteration were identified, with 24 plants inspected and action taken against operators suspected of wrongdoing.

Thai Aromatic Coconut Association president Charan Charoensap said the collection centre began operating on April 1 and aims to stabilise farmer incomes by purchasing produce at prices reflecting production costs and reasonable returns.

Thailand had 56,522 aromatic coconut farming households in 2025, cultivating 305,706 rai. Output rose 49.8% to 877,681 tonnes, while exports in January-May 2026 reached 533,353 tonnes worth US$568.07 million (18.9 billion baht), up 9.18% compared to the same period last year.