Cebu as Hub for Premium Coconut Exports

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is positioning Cebu as a hub for premium coconut exports, as it pushes to transform the country’s coconut sector from a raw commodity supplier into a producer of high-value, globally competitive products, the Sunstar, Cebu reported on August 17. 

Speaking at the opening of the Cebu Coconut Market Expo 2025 last Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, DTI officials said the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) aims to modernize the industry by expanding market access for farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promoting value-adding, and attracting investments in processing facilities. 

“For too long, the coconut sector has been defined by raw exports and untapped potential. Today, we are rewriting that story — transforming coconut into a powerful driver of innovation, high-value products, and global competitiveness,” said DTI-Regional Operations Group assistant secretary Dominic Tolentino Jr.  Cebu is well-placed to lead this transformation, given its export infrastructure, access to international markets and a growing base of MSMEs engaged in coco-based innovations — from virgin coconut oil and health food products to eco-friendly coir mats and handicrafts, he added.

Under CFIDP, DTI is tasked to link farmer cooperatives and enterprises with buyers through trade fairs, business-matching, and digital platforms, while providing technical assistance for standards compliance, labeling, and certification to make coco products export-ready. Among others, it is committed to help exhibitors secure follow-up orders, improve packaging, and promote coco products through One Town One Product Philippines, national trade fairs, and export missions; as well as provide technical assistance for the Food and Drug Administration, labeling, and certification, including exploring funding support for compliance.