KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 17 -- The rising cost of imported coconuts from Indonesia since last year has forced traders to increase the price of santan (coconut milk) to as much as RM20 per kilogramme.

The drastic move was necessary to avoid losses, even as traders faced a drop in sales with more consumers opting for packaged coconut milk instead of fresh coconut milk.

Coconut trader Mohd Fadzli Hamzah, 48, said coconut milk prices started increasing in November last year.

"The price of coconut milk used to be around RM16 per kilogramme. Since the price went up, I have had to raise my prices because suppliers are charging more," he said when speaking to Harian Metro yesterday in Kuantan.

"Since the price of coconut milk has increased by up to...