Besides the palm oil, the indigenous oil crop in a very large area of Africa, the coconut palm does exist discreetly. Nevertheless, the importance of this crop is far from being neglectful due to its role in the economy of some coastal regions where the coconut is the main cash crop. In this paper, the authors are trying (based on the available data) to describe the current situation of the coconut industry (culti­ vated areas, production, research, technology). The importance of this crop in the economy of the African countries, as well as the pros­ pects for its development in the 21st century, are pointed out. Fur­thermore, it is noted that this crop known for its multiples usages, is not enough valorized in Africa.