Coconut prices soared in Thailand amid rising demand for the tropical fruit in China.

Costs spiked by 10 baht (0.24 GBP) per piece, bringing the current prices to up to 30 baht (0.72 GBP) a coconut after aggressive Chinese importers bought up the local stock, resulting in a shortage.

Coconut vendor Chuchart Meengeuen said the price has been rising since the beginning of March, and will likely continue increasing until the monsoon rainy season begins in May.

He said: 'Customers understood and accepted that coconuts will become more expensive from March to April.

'I buy coconuts from a regular plantation, which delivers them fresh to my store every day. However, it is scary to fight against large importers from China who buy up huge quantities of coconuts from Ratchaburi's Damnoen Saduak district. Local vendors would have to also bid against them.

'Still, the price is likely to drop in the rainy season when there are more products in the market.'

Currently, the prices average aound 20 baht (0.48 GBP) depending on the size of the coconuts.

Najawit Thathiranrat, the manager of Khon Kaen province's Rot Fai Market, conducted a market inspection on March 11 and found that some vendors had run out of coconuts to sell, forcing them to either close their stores or buy significantly less from plantations.

He said that the sellers were ordered to strictly follow market prices, adding random store checks were implemented to prevent price gouging.