The bidding results for 9,365 tons of coconut quotas in 2026 in Taiwan open up a great opportunity for Vietnamese goods. Holding 76.5% of the market share, this is an opportunity for enterprises to utilize advantages, overcome technical barriers, and firmly maintain a dominant position in this market…

The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei has just informed about the winning results of the 2026 coconut import quota. This result was announced by the Bank of Taiwan (BOT) based on the tender opening on June 11, 2026.

Accordingly, 19 enterprises were granted import quotas in this allocation round with the total quota volume reaching 9,365 tons.

According to current regulations in Taiwan, the coconut commodity is being applied with import quota measures after this territory joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). The annual permitted import quota volume is 10,000 tons, equivalent to approximately 22% of the market share across Taiwan.

Annually, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of Taiwan will conduct auctions for import rights from 1 to 4 times depending on the actual situation. Importers wishing to bring fresh coconuts into the market are mandatory to participate in auctions to be approved and licensed by the MOA.

The results of this allocation show that the market's attraction still maintains at a very high level when the quota volume has basically been almost completely bid for by enterprises. Notably, Taiwan's coconut import market continues a strong concentration trend toward large importers possessing experience in cold logistics and stable supply systems.

Leading this quota allocation round is LONG KAE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT CO., LTD. with 1,835 tons, followed by WUGUODUO TRADING CO., LTD. reaching 1,325 tons. A number of other large names also gathered a significant quota volume, encompassing UNCLE DRAGON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD. (670 tons), VERY FRESH INC (over 657 tons), and FENG XUAN ENTERPRISE CO., LTD (over 545 tons).

VIETNAMESE COCONUTS OCCUPY UP TO 76.5% MARKET SHARE

According to the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, Taiwan has almost no significant domestic production for the coconut commodity. Therefore, the supply source here relies almost entirely on imports, primarily from Southeast Asian nations such as the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Statistical data from the Taiwan Administration of International Trade (TITA) shows that during the 2025 period and the first 5 months of 2026, Taiwan actually only imported the coconut commodity under code HS090112 (fresh or pre-processed coconuts, in the inner shell form - In the inner shell) from two main supply sources, namely Vietnam and Thailand.

Looking back at 2025, Taiwan's total coconut import volume reached 3,925 tons, up 26.8% compared to 2024, equivalent to a turnover of 2.40 million USD, an increase of 17.6%. This growth clearly reflects the expanding coconut consumption demand in the beverage, food processing, and retail industries here.

In the supply structure of 2025, Vietnamese coconuts demonstrated an absolute dominant role when leading with an output of 3,003 tons, achieving a turnover of 1.75 million USD. This figure rose by 17.9% in volume and up 9.02% in value compared to 2024. Thereby, Vietnam occupied up to 76.5% of the market share by output and 72.9% of the market share by value in Taiwan.

Even so, competitive pressure appeared when Thailand recorded a breakout growth level in 2025 with an output reaching 921,939 kg (up 68%) and a turnover reaching 651,832 USD (up 48,8%), raising Thailand's total output market share to 23.5%.

Moving to the early period of 2026, Vietnam continued to firmly consolidate its leading position when exporting 242,078 kg, occupying up to 81.9% of the market share. Turnover reached 96,498 USD, up 16.2% compared to the same period last year, proving that the demand for Vietnamese coconuts still increases stably.

Conversely, Thailand showed signs of losing breath in the first 5 months of 2026 when output decreased to 53,525 kg (down 11.6%) and turnover decreased by 15.8%, causing this country's market share to contract to 18.1%.

MUST STEP OVER STRICT TECHNICAL BARRIERS

The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei evaluated that Taiwan is a market with very stable demand. Consumption trends here are shifting powerfully toward natural, preservative-free, and health-beneficial foods.

In the retail market, Vietnam's imported fresh coconuts have currently appeared popularly and have origin information clearly written in large supermarket systems such as PX Mart, Mega PX Mart, along with many traditional fruit stores.

Regarding product preferences and segments, the market possesses a clear divergence. Fresh whole coconuts (with husk or lightly shaved) are highly favored in supermarket systems, coffee chains, restaurants, and milk tea brands serving the direct fresh beverage segment.

Deeply pre-processed coconuts—types of coconuts that have been dehusked, pre-grated, or vacuum-packed—are rising fast in demand to serve the food processing industry and modern retailers.

In addition, canned coconut water products recorded strong growth thanks to the sugar-free refreshment wave; while grated coconut meat, desiccated coconut, or coconut oil find a solid standing in retail and food manufacturing channels.

Taiwanese consumers place heavy emphasis on factors of safety, fresh products, clear origins, and eye-catching packaging. Although it is a relatively price-sensitive market, consumers are willing to pay higher prices for branded products that achieve organic certifications or possess reputable origins.

Particularly, coconut products matching the trends of "eat clean," macrobiotics, or sitting within vegan menus are being received extremely positively.

However, the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei also noted that opportunities always go hand in hand with challenges. To bring coconuts into this market, Vietnamese enterprises must face not a few strict technical barriers. For the fresh coconut fruit commodity, exporters are mandatory to complete food safety and hygiene inspection procedures (code F02) along with a tight phytosanitary process (code B01).

Along with that, standards on packaging, labeling, along with the complexity in the quota auction process also demand that enterprises possess careful preparation.

Particularly, due to weather and crop season characteristics, Taiwan usually has a tendency to strongly increase coconut import volumes during phases without domestic production, specifically from January to February and from August to December annually. Grasping this timeline rule combined with the newly announced quota bidding results will serve as an important basis for Vietnamese enterprises to proactively construct production plans and coordinate logistics reasonably, thereby optimizing export value and firmly maintaining the dominant crown in the Taiwan market.

Source: VnEconomy