With a rich history dating back to the 5th century, coconuts have long been cultivated in tropical regions throughout the Pacific Islands, India, China, Africa, and South America. Today, global coconut oil production exceeds 3.5 million metric tons (MT), with the Philippines and Indonesia producing more than three-fourths of the world’s supply. The worldwide market is set to reach nearly $5 billion by next year.
Copra oil continues to see steady demand thanks to its distinctively tropical flavor and aroma, potential health benefits, and unique fatty acid profile. This unique composition gives coconut oil value across various uses, from cooking to cosmetics to industrial applications. By understanding how to press this oil from copra more efficiently, processors can tap into the growing potential of this value.
Dried Coconut are crushed in a screw press expeller to separate the copra oil from the solid meal. Containing up to 70% oil by weight, coconuts have the highest oil content of any oilseed. To capture as much of this oil as possible, processors press copra twice by running the material through two presses or the same press again. This approach uses twice as much energy and potentially doubles the equipment footprint in the plant.