Coconut crunch in Johor: Supply dips 30pct, traders brace for price hike

New Straits Times

23-04-2025

JOHOR BARU: The supply of coconuts in Johor has dropped by 30 per cent following a slowdown in imports from Indonesia due to the prolonged Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays. This has led to fresh coconut milk (santan) sellers grappling with shortages.
Trader Yusri Abdul Hamid, who operates at the Perling public market, said the limited local supply had forced vendors to source coconuts from multiple Indonesian importers and supplement with domestic produce to keep their businesses running.
"The situation worsened after Hari Raya. Many Indonesian workers were on extended leave, causing delays in shipments. On top of that, importers reported that much of the stock kept during the holidays had gone bad, shrinking supply." Yusri added that while importers have given the assurance that coconut shipments will recover next week, they also warned that prices might rise by the end of the month due to heightened demand from China and neighbouring countries.
For now, the price of fresh santan in Johor remains stable at RM17 per kg compared with RM20 per kg in northern states, where coconut supplies have yet to stabilise.
"If the cost of imported coconuts goes up, we will have no choice but to raise prices end of this month. Customers may not be happy, but there's little we can do if raw material costs climb," Yusri said.
Traders fear that Johor may soon face the same price pressure felt in the northern states, which further strained household budgets.