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PRELIMINARY data released by the United Coconut
Associations of the Philippines (Ucap) revealed that
coconut exports from January to March this year went up
by 89 percent to 471,685 metric tons (MT) in copra
terms.
Topping
the list of coconut products shipped out during the
period was coconut oil (CNO). Shipments of CNO more than
doubled at 257,990 MT, from 11,749 MT shipped out during
the same period in 2007.
Copra-meal exports for the first quarter also went up by
almost 80 percent to 118,046 MT in copra terms, while
shipments of oleochemicals also inched up to 28,675 MT.
Shipments of desiccated coconut, however, declined
during the period by 30 percent to 21,669 MT.
For the
month of March alone, exports of coconut products
totaled 116,121 MT, representing a 40-percent
year-on-year increase. On a monthly basis, however, the
figure was 18.9 percent lower than what was shipped out
in February.
In terms
of value, revenues generated for the March shipments of
coconut products went up by 87.3 percent to $80.56
million, from $43 million registered during the same
period last year.
Ucap
noted that CNO accounted for most of the increments
achieved during the month, expanding by 52.3 percent to
59,479 MT from 39,054 MT registered in March 2007.
Shipment of oleochemicals shot up to 168.9 percent to
11,864 MT as copra from 4,412 MT.
More
than half of CNO loaded during the month, or 31,043 MT,
went to the United States. The European market cornered
20.6 percent at 12,249
MT. Malaysia
and Japan also took in substantial volumes,
respectively, at 9,100 MT and 7,087 MT.
Korea,
which has been the top importer of Philippine copra
meal, was virtually an exclusive buyer in March,
handling 96 percent, or 25,713 MT. The remainder, at
1,063 MT, was delivered to New Zealand. Of note is the
absence of Vietnam, consistently the No. 2 buyer, from
the market. |
