Philippines expands copra processing capacity for coconut oil production

A new facility producing edible coconut oil from locally sourced copra, or dried coconut flesh, has been launched in Misamis Occidental province in the Northern Mindanao region of the Philippines. The project is valued at PHP 2.4 mln, or approximately $37.8 thsd. The new processing facility is expected to support local coconut oil production and increase value addition in the agricultural sector.

Misamis Occidental is one of the Philippines’ coconut-growing regions. The province has approximately 97.6 thsd hectares of coconut plantations, with average annual copra production estimated at around 41.1 thsd tons. The availability of locally produced raw materials creates opportunities to expand processing and reduce producers’ dependence on selling unprocessed commodities.

The facility in Tangub City was officially inaugurated on October 8, 2026, under the government’s Shared Service Facility (SSF) program. Following its launch, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) transferred management of the facility to the local government and the Misamis Occidental Coconut Farmers and Processors Association (MOCOFPA). The program aims to provide micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with modern equipment to support the development of local processing industries.

The new facility is equipped with a copra drying system, hammer mill, coconut oil expeller, settling tanks, pumping equipment, filter press, deodorizing system and storage tanks for finished products. This equipment enables the main stages of converting copra into edible coconut oil to be carried out directly in the producing region.

The expansion of local processing comes amid growing exports of coconut-based products from the Philippines. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the value of coconut product exports reached $2.36 bln in January–August 2026, up 2.8% from $2.3 bln in the same period last year. Expanding processing capacity is expected to help farmers and local businesses increase production of higher-value products.

Tags: coconut oil, Philippines