Colombo, June 7 – Sri Lanka’s coconut industry is bracing for another sharp blow as officials forecast a staggering drop of 250 million nuts in the first half of 2025, with the total harvest estimated at just 1.407 billion nuts well below the average of 3 billion.
The decline has forced the country to continue importing coconut-based products to meet rising domestic and export demands. The Coconut Development Authority (CDA) confirmed that the first shipment of imported coconut milk, brought in by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Rural Infrastructure, was inspected and approved at the Orugodawatte Container Terminal on June 2.
CDA Chairman Shantha Ranathunga said all imported products undergo rigorous lab testing before being cleared for distribution. The import program, authorized to run until December 31, has already seen 15 manufacturers request shipments across 36 types of coconut products.
The root cause of the crisis lies in a sharp spike in fertilizer prices. President of the Ceylon Chamber of Coconut Industries, Jayantha Samarakoon, revealed that the cost of a 50kg fertilizer bag skyrocketed from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 12,000, reducing usage to below 10% and triggering a dramatic slump in production.
Speaking at a media briefing earlier this year, Samarakoon emphasized that coconut imports are now unavoidable to prevent a severe shortfall that could cripple both local consumption and vital export earnings.
In response, the government has stepped in with subsidized fertilizer support. From the 55,000 metric tons of fertilizer received from Russia, it is distributing 50kg mixed-fertilizer packs valued at Rs. 9,500 for just Rs. 4,000 to coconut growers across the island.
Meanwhile, the current seasonal harvest, which was delayed by adverse weather, began in May and is expected to conclude in about three months, according to CDA officials.
With mounting pressure on growers and continuing gaps in supply, industry leaders are warning that without urgent structural support, the coconut sector—one of Sri Lanka’s agricultural cornerstones—may spiral into long-term decline.
