Global coconut oil, banana prices up in 2025

GLOBAL PRICES of coconut oil and bananas, which constitute a significant fraction of the Philippines’ agricultural exports, increased in 2025, according to the World Bank.

In a report dated Jan. 6, the World Bank said the average global price of coconut oil in 2025 rose 63.27% to $2,480 per metric ton (MT). Last year’s average price of coconut oil is also more than double the $1,075 per MT rec-orded in 2023.

Coconut oil is the Philippines’ top agricultural export commodity, accounting for 3.38% or $2.61 billion of total exports in the first 11 months of 2025.

The price of bananas in 2025 increased 2.8% in 2025 to $1,100 per MT. Last year’s average price is 0.92% higher than the $1,090 per MT reported in 2023.

Bananas are the Philippines’ second-biggest agricultural export, accounting for 1.87% or $1.45 billion of total exports in the first 11 months.

Meanwhile, prices of agricultural products commonly imported by the Philippines, such as rice and soybean meal, dipped in 2025.

The global price of Vietnam’s 5% broken rice, the grade that accounts for most Philippine imports, fell 31.84% to $380 per MT in 2025. Last year’s average price of the staple grain is also 27.44% lower than the $523.7 per MT recorded in 2023.

The global price of soybean meal, a key ingredient in animal feed, fell 17.19% to $366 per MT in 2025. Last year’s average price is also 32.35% lower than the $541 per MT recorded in 2023.

On the other hand, coffee and cocoa prices recorded significant increases last year.

Arabica coffee prices rose 50.71% to $8,470 per MT in 2025. Last year’s price is also 86.56% higher than the $4,540 per MT reported in 2023.

The price of robusta coffee increased 10.2% to $4,860 per MT in 2025. Last year’s price is also 84.79% higher than the $2,630 per MT recorded in 2023.

Cocoa prices rose 6.41% to $7,800 per MT in 2025 from $7,330 in 2024. Last year’s price is more than double that of the $3,280 per MT recorded in 2023.

The global prices of the Philippines’ main metallic mineral exports were mixed last year.

Nickel prices continued to slide, falling 9.83% to $15,162 per MT in 2025. Last year’s price is also 29.55% lower than the $21,521 per MT average in 2023.

On the other hand, the price of gold increased 44.14% to $3,442 per troy ounce in 2025. Last year’s price is 77.15% higher than $1,943 per troy ounce in 2023.

The price of copper rose 8.81% to $9,947 per MT in 2025. Last year’s price is also 17.16% higher than the $8,490 per MT average in 2023. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel