Coconut is a versatile product and has multiple uses. Almost all the parts of a freshly grown coconut, eatable or otherwise, are used in some or the other manner. Coconut everything can be found in the natural food market. Coconut oil, coconut sugar, coconut water. Each of the different pieces of the coconut are used for different, and sometimes multiple, products. Therefore, oil competes with all of the other coconut products for the simple availability of the coconut plant.

The coconut is a very useful plant with a wide range of products being sourced from it. Coconut products are used to make everything from clothing to animal feed to beauty creams. Its kernel is harvested for its edible flesh and delicious water, while its husk is used for its strong fibers. Most important, however, are its oils, which are extracted, processed, and marketed for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic uses alike. Such trendy products come from young green coconuts, fresh coconut and the trees’ flowers.

Coconut products

1. Tender coconut water

2. Copra

3. Coconut oil

4. Raw kernel

5. Coconut cake

Coconut export from India includes coconut (fresh and dried), copra, palm kernel/babassu oil, W/N refined not chemically modified, coconut desiccated, crude oil and fractions, oil-cake and oilcake meal expeller variety of coconut or copra, coconut coir (raw), hookah of coconut shell, flower carvings of coir, etc.

Coconut and coconut based products sector plays a pivotal role in the foreign exchange earnings by offering a wide array of products to the international market. The coconut is a very useful plant with a wide range of products being sourced from it. Coconut products are used to make everything from clothing to animal feed to beauty creams. Its kernel is harvested for its edible flesh and delicious water, while its husk is used for its strong fibers. Most important, however, are its oils, which are extracted, processed, and marketed for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic uses alike. Typically, the flesh is first dried down to 6% moisture to make copra. This product is then hauled to factories across the world where it is manufactured into oil.

Virgin coconut oil is obtained by pressing the fresh meat of the coconut. It is extracted by a mechanical process without chemical changes. The oil remains in its most natural form. Virgin coconut oil is derived from the fresh and mature kernel (flesh) of the coconut.

Coconut Vinegar is an important ingredient for many food preparations for enhancing their tastes and keeping qualities. Besides, it is also used in canned and packed food products like pickle, meat products etc. The vinegar available at present is mainly synthetic origin. Product diversification and by product utilization of coconut for food products have attained remarkable achievements and its promotion have significantly attributed to the present level of price stability in coconut. In the field of byproduct utilization, only the coir industries have made significant stride in the economy.

In case of coconut shell utilization, Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka are far ahead of India. Considering the immense potential and the need for promotion of shell based industries in the country, the Board has played a salutary role. In India coconut shells are used as fuel in households, bakeries, brick yards, lime kilns, iron foundries and other small scale industries. It is a natural product made up of hardened cellulose with high lignin content, which renders it to be very durable, enabling it to resist quick degradation and easy decomposition even under wet conditions.

Coconut shell powder is extensively used as compound filler in the plastic industry, synthetic resin glues and as filler cum extender for phenolic molding powders. This unique product is used for specialized surface finishes, mastic adhesives, mild abrasive products & polyester type laminates. In India, the coconut shell powder has extensive application in the manufacture of agarbatti, mosquito coil etc.

Coconut is a popular plantation and is grown in more than 90 countries of the world. Coconut has an important place in the Indian culture and has been produced here since time immemorial. India, producing 13 billion nuts per annum, is one of the market leaders in coconut. Demand for coconuts has grown upwards of 500% in the last decade. This is because coconut-based derivatives, such as soaps, virgin coconut oil, health products and coconut water, have all seen large spikes in demand, so much so that producers may not be able to keep up.

The volume and value in the export of coconut oil, desiccated coconut and activated carbon have shown a significant increase. While desiccated coconut exports went up 63 per cent, the increase was 23 per cent in the case of coconut oil over the previous year.

The export of coconut and coconut products from India increased by 10.50 per cent to 1450.24 crore in 2015-2016. The increase in quantity exported of desiccated coconut, coconut oil and activated carbon when compared to previous year was 63, 23 and 13 per cent respectively. There are greater prospects for exports of coconut oil, virgin coconut oil and desiccated coconut from India in 2016-17 as the prevailing domestic price is less when compared to the international market.

Over the years, coconut production has helped the economy of India colossally. In states where coconuts are produced, it is one of the leading influences of the economy in those areas. Coconut farming has been responsible for a good number of employments in rural areas. Further, the processing, manufacture, packaging and shipping industries have gained from coconut exports enriching more livelihoods.

How to Set Up a Coconut Products Business Plan?

Many people find it more appropriate to seek professional help in writing a business plan. It is one business document that you do not want to do casually.

The first step towards business plan preparation is the company name and brand identification. The company name should relate to coconut products, for example, Palm Coconut Oil Company. Anyone reading your company name will know that you deal with coconut products.

Different coconut oils require different licenses and permits. If you intend to produce cooking oil, for example, you may need a food-processing permit. Other coconut products are soaps, skin products, hair products, repellants, coconut milk powder production, etc. Find out the legal requirements for your coconut product in your country.

A market analysis report is an essential part of your business plan. Establish the number of coconut processing companies in your areas. Find out also the size of the coconut products market. If your target is to produce soap, then research the soap brands in the market. For each brand, examine its market share. Talk to consumers about their soap preferences.

Lastly, establish the level of inputs needed for the type of coconut product you have in mind. As you write your business plan report, you will need to quantify all the requirements. These inputs range from the cost of coconuts, transport, machines, daily operations, and marketing.

How to Start a Coconut Processing Manufacturing Plant?

There are things you need to consider before you start a coconut product plant. The options for coconut products industry include:

• Coconut milk product industry
• Coconut Shell Powder Manufacturing Unit
• Coconut oil processing
• Coconut shell production

One of the things you need for a new coconut products manufacturing unit is agricultural land and factory unit. Even though you will be buying coconuts, you need a company owned coconut farm. Your farm helps to cushion you against fluctuations in the supply of raw coconuts.

You should also register your business and apply for a coconut product manufacturing permit. While you work on registration and business permits, start growing your coconut trees. These trees take a long time to mature. The earlier you plant them, the better.

The next big thing in coconut products manufacturing is the production process. Familiarize yourself with the available approaches and settle for the most appropriate manufacturing process.

Lastly, do a thorough market analysis. Understand your competitors’ marketing strategies. This knowledge will help you create a strong brand that can compete favorably in the market.

Things to Know While Preparing a Project Report on Coconut Industry

Before you prepare a report on the coconut processing manufacturing plant, you need to know a few things about coconuts and their products. Here is some information:

• Coconuts are tropical crops. They grow well in hot regions.
• Palm tree varieties thrive well under different soil types. Select a coconut tree variety that is suitable for your locality.
• The coconut industry is diverse. To maximize profits, you should consider as many products as possible. A mature coconut consists of 50% husk, 15% shell, 25% meat, and 10% water. Each of these components can give you different products.
• There are different methods of processing coconuts. For a small coconut products business, you can use a mechanical extraction method or traditional method. If you are planning to put up a large-scale coconut production unit, you need advanced technologies.

How to Start A Coconut Shell Powder-Manufacturing Unit?

The first step towards a shell powder industry is the development of a project report on the coconut industry. While preparing this project report, you identify a coconut variety that can give you good quality shell powder. The coconut variety should be locally available.

Assuming you have identified all materials and equipment, the next step is to assemble manufacturing equipment and set up your processing plant. Among the machinery needed include:

• Hammermill
• Storage bin
• Impact pulverizer
• Cyclone
• Bag filter
• Air blower sieving machine

You also need to set up the necessary structures and buildings. As you do this, you will be working on registration and permit acquisition. Besides infrastructure, equipment, and licenses, you need a well-trained and skilled workforce.

Once everything is in place, it is time you stocked your raw materials and start processing your coconut shell powder.

Machines Needed To Prepare Coconut Milk Powder

Coconut milk powder is a popular ingredient in Southeast Asian cooking. Coconut milk is a product of grated coconut flesh.

You can make coconut milk from grated coconut meat using either manual or mechanical extraction. Many countries have introduced technology for spray-dried powder, which increases the milk powder production rate.

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