Preliminary UCAP figures indicate Philippine coconut products export in 2006 totaled 2,012,843 MT copra terms. This is lower by 6.1% when compared with the previous year at 2,144,542 MT and 1.5% short of UCAP initial estimate made in December at 2,042,183 MT. The shortfall was attributed to coconut oil which reduced shipment by 8.1% during the year to 1,058,070 MT from 1,151,639 MT. The figure is down by 1.1% from UCAP initial estimate at 1,069,823 MT.

       Export of by-product copra meal at 429,079 MT was little changed (-0.3%) from prior year at 430,285 MT but was shade higher (0.6%) than UCAP expectation at 426,712 MT. Desiccated coconut hiked export by 5.9% to 133,160 MT from 125,758 MT and oleochemicals climbed 4.4% to 127,492 MT as copra from 122,113 MT. UCAP anticipated a lower figure for desiccated coconut at 130,464 MT but a higher total for oleochemicals at 142,344 MT.

       Export of coconut oil in December 2006 went mainly to Europe and the United States. The former took in 38,001 MT representing 47.0% of total shipment during the month and the latter 36,403 MT for a market share of 45.0%. Smaller volumes went to Japan at 5,350 MT and Taiwan at 1,120 MT which respectively accounted for 6.6% and 1.4%.

       Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority show six non-traditional coconut products each generated more than USD100,000 from exports during the month making them the top earners in the sector. Leading the list was TOILET/BATH SOAP with income of $592,964 from volume of 249 MT. The tonnage is 13.2% down from September of the prior year at 287 MT. Major destinations were Indonesia 75 MT, Malaysia 32 MT, United Arab Emirates 32 MT, and Singapore 29 MT. Other destinations took in 3 MT and lower.

       Taking the second spot was VIRGIN COCONUT OIL with earning of USD372,599. This month’s shipment at 122 MT skyrocketed by more than four-fold (+453.9%) from previous year at just 22 MT. With the massive increase, the cumulative figure for the nine-month period ending September at 358 MT now equaled that of similar period year-ago. For this month’s shipment, Canada was top destination with 56 MT, followed by U.S. 20 MT, Germany 17 MT, Malaysia 13 MT, and Korea 13 MT. Other countries took in volume lower than 1 MT.

       COCONUT MILK POWDER was close third with value at USD362,164 from 150 MT shipment, an improvement by 38.1% from 109 MT a year earlier. Belgium remained market leader for this product responsible for 77 MT or 51.0%. Other significant outlets were U.S. 21 MT, Japan 13 MT, Hongkong 13 MT, and Taiwan 11 MT. Other markets bought volume of 5 MT and lower.

       Export receipts from NATA DE COCO stood at USD265,306 from sales of 315 MT, lower by 15.5% from year-ago at 373 MT. The shipment went almost exclusively to Japan, its biggest market, at 229 MT (72.7% share). Quite a good amount also went to Hongkong 28 MT, U.S. 19 MT, and China 11 MT. Other importers held much lower volume of 6 MT and below.

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK contributed USD149,854 to the sector’s aggregate revenue.

       The amount was in payment for 109 MT of exported product, an expansion by 7.0% from previous year at 102 MT. As Belgium was market leader for the powder form, the U.S. held supreme in liquid coconut milk section with import at 56 MT accounting for 51.3%. Other important buyers were Japan 36 MT and Canada 11 MT. The rest held volume of 2 MT and lower.

       Following the ceremonial signing of the Biofuels Act of 2006 in Malacañang last week, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said the next step would be to convene the National Biofuels Board which was mandated to draft the implementing rules within three months. He vowed to consult as many stakeholders as possible, including those apprehensive of the government’s push for alternative fuels.

       Although the Board will be composed of government agencies as mandated by law, it will consult with the private sectors including the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI). The car industry group has been lobbying for representation in the Board, saying the country’s policies on biofuels will affect the vehicles business.

       Researchers at Brandeis University and in Malaysia said a new method of modifying fat in commercial products to replace unhealthy trans fats has been found to raise blood glucose and depress insulin in humans, both common precursors to diabetes. Additionally, as does trans fats, it still lowers the beneficial HDL-cholesterol thus increasing the risk for heart disease.

       Nutrition researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health have found trans fats may increase the risk of infertility in women. Researchers behind the study thus counseled women who want to have a baby to avoid foods containing trans fats. Lead author Jorge Chavarro, while admitting the findings need confirmation, advised that trans fats should be avoided for many reasons, one of them being reducing infertility risk. Previous studies have shown trans fats to increase the risk of heart disease as they elevate the LDL (bad) cholesterol while depressing the HDL (good) cholesterol.