NAKHON PATHOM: Thai coconut processing company Theppadungporn Coconut Co, Ltd, producer of the Chaokoh brand, recorded a 20pc increase in export sales in 2025 despite stagnant growth in Thailand’s overall coconut milk export market, with investments in production capacity, technology and international standards helping it outperform broader industry trends.
Chaokoh Factory Managing Director Kiattisak Theppadungphon said the company had continued to strengthen its operations amid growing challenges in the global coconut industry, including drought, extreme weather and shortages of raw coconuts.
The company’s roots date back three generations, when Kiattisak’s father persuaded the family to move beyond selling whole coconuts and begin processing them into value-added products.
Kiattisak said the transition was difficult at first, with the family taking several years to change its traditional business practices, but it eventually laid the foundation for Chaokoh’s expansion into international markets.
The factory marks its 50th anniversary this year and now exports to more than 45 countries across seven continents, with annual revenue of about US$260 million reported last year.
He said Chaokoh invested about US$1 million to increase production capacity during a period of severe coconut shortages, taking the opposite approach to some producers that reduced operations because of insufficient raw materials.
The investment enabled the company to capture larger supplies when coconuts became available and maintain stocks during periods of shortage even as the wider Thai coconut milk industry stagnated.
Kiattisak said the experience showed the growing importance of flexibility as weather patterns increasingly disrupt traditional coconut production cycles.
The company said its export performance was also supported by a strategy centred on brand trust and transparency, backed by strict compliance with international production, food safety and environmental standards.
Chaokoh’s manufacturing systems are certified under ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000:2018, BRCGS Issue 9, GHP and HACCP, while its environmental and energy management systems comply with ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 50001:2018.
Kiattisak said quality and consistency remained fundamental to the company’s ability to maintain supply to all its customers.
Food safety has also become a key area of investment amid concerns over coconut water adulteration.
The company has invested more than 10 million baht in Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS), a laser-based system that analyses sugar profiles and can detect whether sugar has been added to coconut water.
Kiattisak said every incoming coconut water supply is tested, with finished products also checked to ensure they meet the required standards and remain free from added sugar.
At the same time, Chaokoh has expanded its circular economy practices by converting coconut residue, husks and shells into biomass fuel for use in the factory’s boilers.
Kiattisak said a 30pc improvement in the system last year resulted in energy savings worth about US$800,000 annually, while excess heat from the boilers is reused in the production of the biomass fuel.
“Over 50 years, Chaokoh has been committed to developing high-quality products recognized worldwide,” he said, adding that coconut milk remains its core product, accounting for about 80pc of production distributed overseas and 20pc domestically.
Its wider product portfolio includes coconut water, cold-pressed coconut oil, crispy coconut snacks and canned fruits and vegetables.
Kiattisak said the company’s focus on quality, food safety, energy efficiency, ethical practices and environmental protection would remain central to its efforts to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable global coconut industry.
Meanwhile, Production Manager Chawapol Theppadungphon said the factory visit on 28 May gave media and business partners a closer look at how Chaokoh applies its international production standards in practice.
“It shows that Chaokoh is not only a global leader in taste and quality, but also an organisation prepared to adapt to change through innovation and responsible business practices.
“Our partners and consumers can rest assured that every Chaokoh product is rooted in truly sustainable business practices,” he said.