Coconut prices increased rapidly in Sanya this summer. Since May, the average price of a single coconut increased from 7 yuan to 10 yuan. Some vendors are even selling coconuts for as much as 12 yuan per coconut (for red coconuts).

According to a vendor, the high import price of the coconut led to the prices increase. “We bought coconuts at a price of from three to five yuan at the beginning of summer, but now the price has risen to six yuan or even more, so we have to sell them at a higher price.”

This reporter learned that over the past 10 years, Sanya has greatly reduced coconut cultivation, instead planting mango, areca nut, and other fruits. Now, Sanya’s low coconut production can’t meet market demands, which has cause a big rise in prices.

In recent years, Hainan has had an annual production of 200 million coconuts. That low production number has forced coconut-processing enterprises to import coconuts from other countries such as Vietnam.

According to industry insiders, establishing a coconut cultivation center would be a good way to increase coconut production and bring coconut prices under control.