Discussed in this paper are the coconut industries of the thirteen full members of the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) which account for about 85% of world coconut production. Highlighted are aspects relating to economic importance, hectarage, production, industry problems and development strate­ gies. Further to the discussion on coconut production, focus is made on the trend in production and projections until year 2002. The latter section of the paper deals with the assessment of the general industry situation, relating industry problems and development stra­ tegies. Finally, concluding statements are presented, underscoring the immediate concern to increase returns from coconut farming through the production of higher value added products, streamlining of domestic marketing system and the reduction of coconut oil exports and diverting the same to higher value downstream products.