Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority show nine non-traditional coconut products generated revenue of more than USD100,000 during the month to qualify for the top non-traditional export products list. Leading the pack was GLYCERIN which earned USD1.866 million from export of 1,430 MT. The volume during the month rose fractionally by 0.5% from 1,422 MT in the same period year-ago. Top destination was Japan with 876 MT (61.3% share), followed by China with 292 MT (20.4%) and United States at 100 MT (7.0%). Four other countries shared the remaining load of 162 MT.

       Second biggest non-traditional export was ALKANOMIDE with export receipts of USD932,661 from sale of 414 MT. The volume expanded to almost 20 folds from figure in October year-ago at 21 MT. There were six recipients of the product led by China, which took in 134 MT representing 32.4% of the total traded volume. The next two big buyer countries were Thailand with 114 MT (27.6%) and Australia with 79 MT (19.0%). Three other countries shared the remaining volume amounting to 87 MT.

       VIRGIN COCONUT OIL took the third spot with income of USD554,814. Volume at 164 MT plunged rapidly by 23.8% from 215 MT in the previous year. Canada captured the biggest portion at 79 MT trailed by United States at 47 MT, for respective market share of 47.9% and 28.6% of the total trade. Belgium led the group of 10 countries that imported no higher than 23 MT; total volume contributed by the group was 38 MT.

       TOILET/BATH SOAP ranked number four with proceeds of USD446,007 from sale of 159 MT. Tonnage during the month jumped by a whopping 140.1% from similar month year-ago load at 66 MT. Top five destinations were United Arab Emirates at 56 MT, Saudi Arabia at 25 MT, China at 21, Singapore at 19 MT and Sudan at 15 MT, with combined share of 85.5%. Twenty other countries shared the remaining volume of 22 MT or 13.8%.

       NATA DE COCO landed fifth with turnover of USD323,487 from shipment of 274 MT. The volume reflected a deficit of 26.7% from prior year data at 374 MT. Japan cornered the biggest chunk with 151 MT (55.0%), followed far behind by United Arab Emirates with 45 MT (16.4%), United States 26 MT (9.4%), China 11 MT (4.1%) and Netherlands 9 MT (3.3%). Seventeen other countries bought the remaining volume of 33 MT or 11.9%.

       COCONUT MILK POWDER was the top sixth export and earned USD237,237 from delivery of 64 MT. This month?s volume contracted by 54.2% year-ago figure at 139 MT. Netherlands was the primary market with 25 MT (38.7%), followed by Japan and Australia at 13 MT apiece, and Taiwan at 12 MT. Two other countries took in the remaining volume of 1 MT.

       SHAMPOO came in seventh place and generated income of USD209,535 from 55 MT export. Current volume shrank substantially by 26.6% from 75 MT in a similar month year-ago. Malaysia took in bulk of the export with 32 MT (58.3%). Other markets were Singapore 6 MT and Papua New Guinea 5 MT with a combined share of 19.4%. Fourteen other countries combined shared the balance of 12 MT (22.4%).

       MAKAPUNO which earned USD 168,075 from export of 81 MT (98 MT year-ago) filled in the eighth place. The United States was top buyer of the month responsible for 41 MT (50.1%), followed by Australia 11 MT (13.6%), Canada 9 MT (10.8%), United Arab Emirates and Netherlands at 4 MT apiece. Others market category which comprised 16 various countries imported a total of 14 MT.

       Official figures from the Coconut Development Authority in Sri Lanka reveal the country?s export of desiccated coconut in October 2008 stood at 5,319 MT, a hefty improvement from October year-ago at 3,115 MT by 70.7%. The shipment was worth USD9.096 million FOB as against USD3.857 million year-ago. Average traded price leaped 38.1% to USD1,710.00 from USD1,238.27/MT FOB. Total export in January-October 2008 at 27,977 MT plunged by 30.2% from a comparable year-ago period data at 40,097 MT.

       Data from Oil World show China imported 18,100 MT of lauric oils in November 2008, a sharp drop by 43.6% from November year-ago total at 32,100 MT. Palm kernel oil, which accounted for 95.0% of total lauric import, dropped substantially by 21.1% to 17,200 MT from 21,800 MT. Coconut oil, which shared 5.0% massively shrank by 91.3% to 900 MT from 10,300 MT following sharply reduced deliveries from Indonesia and the Philippines.

       Indonesia remained the biggest supplier responsible for 76.8% of total during the month with 13,900 MT (21,600 MT year-ago) of which 13,400 MT was palm kernel oil (14,400 MT) and 500 MT was coconut oil (7,200 MT). Shipment from Malaysia was 3,800 MT (7,400 MT) of palm kernel oil and accounted for 21.0%. The Philippines was responsible for merely 100 MT (2,600 MT) of coconut oil or 0.6% share. Other countries aggregately delivered 300 MT (500 MT) of coconut oil.

        Walter Bradley, engineering professor of Baylor University, and two students are using coconut fibers in place of currently used synthetic fibers to make compression-molded composites for automobile parts such as bed liners, floorboards, sun visors and inside door covers. According to Bradley, the idea came about just over a year ago, growing out of a desire to aid poor coconut farmers in coastal regions in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Ghana and Sri Lanka. ?We were interested in trying to identify things that one could do with a coconut husk, which is really a throwaway material in most developing countries. We wanted to find a way to make that worth something,? Bradley said.