Eastern Visayas’ copra market has eased from an early-August spike but remains higher than late last year, buoyed by strong global coconut oil prices.
Based on the Philippine Coconut Authority’s (PCA) latest price bulletin dated August 13, farmgate copra in Region VIII averaged ₱39.65 per kilo, while millgate prices settled at ₱55.52 per kilo.
This marks a decline from August 4, when the region briefly reached ₱62.72/kg at farmgate and ₱80.36/kg at millgate during a nationwide price surge.
When compared to earlier periods, the picture is mixed.
Prices are lower than in March 2025, when farmgate rates hit ₱46.72/kg and millgate rates reached ₱63.77/kg.
However, they remain well above November 2024 levels, when copra fetched only ₱31.45/kg at farmgate and ₱46.51/kg at millgate.
Authorities are said to attribute the sustained strength to elevated international coconut oil (CNO) prices.
As of August 13, CNO CIF Europe stood at $2,950 per metric ton, only slightly down from $2,990 on August 4, but far higher than the $1,850 recorded in November 2024.
This means that strong export values push local millers to compete for copra supplies, thus lifting farmgate prices.
On the other hand, provincial data from the PCA show significant price disparities across Eastern Visayas.
On August 13, farmgate prices ranged from ₱24.80/kg in Northern Samar to ₱50.71/kg in the Northwestern side of Leyte.
Millgate offers varied between ₱52/kg and ₱60/kg, reflecting differences in transport costs, product quality, and mill demand.
Coconut farm owners and local authorities believe that the market is now in a consolidation phase after the early-August buying frenzy.
“Nagluya na gad yana pero okay na gihap kuntra han una. Waray gud aka nay mag patong la anay hadto hin lubi kay malulugi pa ak,” a local copra trader shared.
For coconut farmers, the current prices present an opportunity to benefit from better margins, especially for well-dried and high-quality copra.
For local traders, experts say managing the gap between domestic prices and export-linked coconut oil rates will remain key in the coming weeks.
For now, Eastern Visayas’ copra trade stands on stronger ground than it did in late 2024—though with the region’s price swings, stability is never a guarantee.
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