The cost of fresh coconuts has reached a historic peak in Guyana, due in part to the increased use of coconut water to combat El Niño-driven heat, coupled with its associated health benefits.
Vendors in Stabroek Market square and around Georgetown report a surge in coconut prices, with demand far surpassing the available supply. Current weather conditions have made it challenging to negotiate prices with suppliers.
An anonymous coconut vendor expressed that she experienced difficulty in procuring coconuts for her business. She highlighted the drastic price hike, noting that a load of coconuts that would normally cost $9,000 has risen to $15,000. Consequently, she had to raise the price for her bottled coconut water, previously priced at $280/$300, to $400 for a small bottle. And to compound matters, the reduced water content in the coconuts means having to use more coconuts to fill the same size bottle.
Another vendor who sources coconuts from the Pomeroon River, mentioned the struggle to obtain the usual quantity of coconuts at affordable prices. He revealed an increase in the cost of purchasing 1,000 coconuts, from $120,000 to $150,000. Due to the scarcity of coconuts and the decreased water content, maintaining profit margins has become challenging.
A nearby coconut vendor echoed the lament of supply difficulties, emphasising the impact of soaring coconut prices on sales. He suggested the need for government intervention to regulate prices “It’s harder now; I can’t sell like I used to before, the market is stiff [and] everybody is feeling the squeeze with these coconut prices. The government needs to initiate a price control method,” he said
Similarly, a vendor located at Camp and Alexander streets shared the challenge of acquiring sufficient coconuts to meet demand, leading to the price of a small bottle of coconut water increasing to $500. The ongoing hot weather is exacerbating the situation, causing coconuts to dry out, resulting in a discrepancy between coconut shell size and the amount of water inside. “It’s harder for me; I have had to ramp up my prices for a small bottle of coconut water to $500 just to be able to make a profit and to continue running my business. It is hard on me and by the days are getting hotter the nuts are getting drier.”
