Glossary
Common terms used in coconut product export, explained for international buyers.
- VCO (Virgin Coconut Oil)
- Coconut oil extracted from fresh mature coconut meat with minimal refining, typically cold or expeller pressed, retaining a characteristic coconut aroma and flavor. VCO product page→
- RBD Coconut Oil
- Refined, Bleached, and Deodorized coconut oil, typically produced from copra, with a neutral flavor and aroma suited to a wider range of food, cosmetic, and industrial applications. RBD coconut oil product page→
- Copra
- Dried coconut kernel (meat), produced primarily as a feedstock for coconut oil extraction rather than direct food use. Dried copra product page→
- Desiccated Coconut
- Grated, dried, unsweetened coconut meat, graded by cut size (fine, medium, coarse, flakes) and fat content, used across bakery, confectionery, and snack applications. Grade guide→
- Coco Peat / Cocopeat
- The fine, spongy pith from the coconut husk, used as a growing medium in horticulture and hydroponics, commonly sold compressed into blocks. Cocopeat product page→
- Coco Fiber / Coco Coir
- The coarser, stronger fiber strands from the coconut husk, used in geotextiles, mattress and upholstery filling, brushes, and agricultural applications. Coconut fiber product page→
- Coconut Aminos
- A liquid seasoning made from fermented coconut blossom sap, used as a soy-free, typically lower-sodium alternative to soy sauce. Coconut aminos product page→
- FFA (Free Fatty Acid)
- A measure of fat breakdown in an oil, commonly reported on a certificate of analysis as an indicator of freshness and processing quality — lower FFA generally indicates a fresher, better-processed oil.
- COA (Certificate of Analysis)
- A lab-tested document reporting the measured quality parameters of a specific production lot, used by buyers to verify a supplier's specification claims before or after shipment. How to read a COA→
- EC (Electrical Conductivity)
- A measurement used to indicate the soluble salt level in a hydrated growing medium such as coco peat — relevant to buyers specifying material for hydroponic or sensitive-crop use. Coco peat for hydroponics→
- MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
- The smallest order volume a supplier will accept for a given product, which can vary by format, packaging, and whether the order is a trial or a standard production run.
- Incoterms (EXW, FOB, CIF)
- Standardized international shipping terms defining which party is responsible for costs and risk at each stage of transport. EXW (Ex Works) places most responsibility on the buyer from the factory gate; FOB (Free on Board) shifts responsibility to the buyer once goods are loaded onto the shipping vessel; CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) includes shipping and insurance to the destination port.
- HACCP
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points — a food-safety management system certification indicating that a production process has identified and controls food-safety risks at critical points.
- Halal Certification
- Certification confirming a product and its full production system — including processing aids, equipment, and handling — comply with Halal requirements, issued by a recognized certifying body. Halal certification guide→
- OEM / Private Label
- Manufacturing arrangements where a supplier produces goods packaged and branded under the buyer's own label, rather than the supplier's brand. Private label OEM guide→
- Glycemic Index (GI)
- A measure of how quickly a food raises blood glucose levels. Reported GI values for a given ingredient can vary between studies and testing methods, and lab GI values don't always predict real-world clinical blood sugar response. Coconut sugar vs cane sugar GI→