The coconut oil markets in Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been steady after the Pongal holidays with prices remaining more or less stable.

In Kerala, coconut oil prices are now quoting at ₹13,800 per quintal, an increase of ₹100 compared to last week, while in Tamil Nadu, it stood at ₹13,600 as against ₹13,500 quoted last week.

With good upcountry demand for edible copra, prices have shot up to ₹9,800 per quintal in Kerala from ₹9,150.

Thalath Mahmood, Director, Cochin Oil Merchants’ Association (COMA), said the market has received good arrivals, especially from the northern parts, with demand for both powder quality and milling copra on the rise.

Better price realisation for raw coconuts and copra recently has attracted people to coconut farming, registering a 20-25 per cent growth compared to previous years. With good monsoon rains, traders expect a comfortable production season this year in the State, he added.

However, Bharat Khona, former Board Member, was of the view that copra arrivals have not yet improved though the season has started. With no genuine demand, he said, prices were still quoting higher.

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