If you're a fan of Kerala cuisine or rely on coconut oil for your daily cooking, brace yourself—coconut oil prices have surged to unprecedented levels. At Supplyco outlets, the price has touched Rs 200 per litre after a Rs 33 hike this month, following an earlier Rs 8 increase in December 2024. Retail prices of coconut oil have climbed to Rs 242 per kilogram, with packaged oil priced between Rs 235 and Rs 300 per kilogram.

Adding to the concern, raw coconut prices have skyrocketed to Rs 75–Rs 80 per kilogram due to a sharp decline in production, reportedly down by 40%. Heavier coconuts, requiring just two pieces to make a kilogram, highlight the supply-demand imbalance. The steep price hikes in coconut oil and raw coconuts are attributed to climate change and erratic weather patterns, which have severely impacted local coconut production.

At Supplyco, only limited stock of coconut oil remains, leftover from the Christmas-New Year fairs. While coconut oil prices have increased, Supplyco has kept other commodity prices unchanged this month. However, last month saw hikes in staple items such as raw rice (Rs 29), Jaya rice (Rs 33), and Matta and Kuruva rice (Rs 33).

Subsidy prices for essentials at Supplyco (excluding GST):

  • Green Gram (1 kg): Rs 90
  • Black Gram (1 kg): Rs 95
  • Bengal Gram (1 kg): Rs 69
  • Red Cowpea (1 kg): Rs 79
  • Toor Dal (1 kg): Rs 115
  • Red Chilli (500 g): Rs 73
  • Coriander (500 g): Rs 39
  • Sugar (1 kg): Rs 33

Despite the pricing adjustments, many of these subsidy items are unavailable at Supplyco outlets, leaving consumers frustrated and struggling to manage rising kitchen expenses.

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