The DTI–Bagong Pilipinas COCONUT Philippines Trade Fair puts on display the versatility of the coconut - the country's most important agricultural product.
The DTI Bagong Pilipinas Coconut Trade Fair showcases the many different uses of the coconut, which is the Philippines largest agricultural product.
Photos courtesy of DTI / Visions & Expressions
Among the many coconut-derivative products found at the DTI Coconut Fair is haricare and skincare by DermTropics
Photos by Elizabeth S. Timbol for DAILY TRIBUNE
Mama Sita's line of Coconut Vinegar
When it comes to soap, natural is always better, like Coco Plus' Coco Collagen soap.
Coconut juice and coconut milk are also used in making liquor like Destileria Limtuaco's Coco Hogo
Dehusk coconut milk is your coffee's alternative to dairy.
In recent years, Coconut sugar has become the healthier alternative to sugar with its lower glycemic index
Flori produces coconut-based liquor in flavors iof Benguet
In 2025, coconut exports from the Philippines experienced a 34.4% surge, reachung USD3.6 billion. Accounting for nearly half of the country's total agro-based exports, the coconut showed an immense potential to not only grow into more high-value product streams, but also strengthen the global presence of Filipino enterprises. This became an integral part of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) increased efforts to further boost the local coconut industry.
The DTI-Bagong Pilipinas COCONUT Philippines Trade Fair at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, running through this weekend, is a veritable showcase of the immense potential of the mighty coconut.
Across 300 booths are displayed the vast number of products made of everything from root to fruit. “The value of our coconut industry lies not only in what we harvest, but in what we create from it," said DTI Secretary Ma. Cristina A. Roque during the fair's opening ceremony.
"We must maximize its potential by producing competitive, high-value products that generate lasting income for our farmers and local communities.”
Exploring all the different booths, one would be hard pressed to not be amazed by the vast range of productd using all parts of the coconut. Coconut oil, for example, is known for its health benefits.
It is the key ingredient in nourishig skincare like DermTropics' line of therapeutic body wash and hair oil, in GIGA's line of healing salves and sports ointments, in Coco Collagen's natural soaps, and in the much-hailed MCT oil.
The sap is used in making coconut sugar, a healthier sweetener alternative, of which several MSME's offered different variants. It is also the base for Slow's brand of hydrating electrolyte drinks, and Mama Sita's line of coconut vinegars.
Even coconut milk steps out of its shell, pun intended, at the fair. Monde Nissin's GoodNom Fresh Gata is ideal for all those creamy Filipino dishes, while Dehusk Coconut Milk, the brainchild of actress Nadine Lustre and Christophe Bariou, is your coffee's new favorite dairy alternative. Cabalen's new line of canned Laing is a convenient way to enjoy the Pinoy favorite.
Lambanog gets a fancy makeover by way of Lakan, while Karl and Fenn Daniel of Flori OPC transform it with the flavors of Benguet. Even Destileria Limtuaco gets into the coconut game with their new liquer Coco Hogo.
At the other end of the spectrum are decorative home items made of coconut bark, including Christmas ornaments. “The world already knows the exceptional quality of Philippine coconut products. Now, we must create more Filipino success stories that will bring better lives to our farmers and uplift communities nationwide,” says Secretary Roque.
An integral part of the DTI–Bagong Pilipinas COCONUT Philippines Trade Fair is that it opens doors for the participating MSMEs to expand opportunities for product development, direct market linkages and commercial partnerships—complementing the agency's targeted support programs such as the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP).
As the popularity of Philippine coconut products continue to grow, exporters can also benefit from the country's expanding network of free trade agreements (FTAs), including the recently concluded Philippines–Chile FTA negotiations and ongoing trade discussions with the European Union and Canada.
Especially in a season where the global appetite for Filipino produce and products is on the rise. “If you want to meet a company or partner in another country, the DTI will help make that connection happen," explains Roque. "Our goal is clear: build stronger businesses, improve incomes and generate more quality jobs here in the Philippines.”
