Prospects for the Utilization of Coconut Wood in Asia and the Pacific

Coconut wood has been proven to be a good substitute for many conventional woods. Like conventional wood, the coconut stem is durable, sturdy and versatile and can often be used at a considerably lower cost. The cost of coconut wood is only about half – or a little more than half – the price of conventional wood traditionally used for structural purposes (APCC 2000).

This fact is especially attractive to countries with limited budgets for housing for their growing populations. There is, therefore, a need to study the situation and prospects for coconut wood utilization in a country, if it wishes to develop that industry. A vast resource of coconut wood is available throughout the tropical countries of the world. This resource could be derived from millions of over-mature or senescent coconut palms.