Preliminary UCAP figures show Philippine export of coconut products rose moderately in December 2007. Total stood at 176,990 MT copra terms, exceeding by 10.6% December 2006 data at 159,999 MT. All products but desiccated coconut surpassed respective year-ago figures. Coconut oil hiked lifting by 8.4% to 92,846 MT from 85,622 MT, copra meal leaped 26.5% to 37,661 MT from 29,764 MT, oleochemicals soared 82.3% to 17,176 MT in copra terms from 9,422 MT; but desiccated coconut plunged 15.2% to 8,046 MT from 9,488 MT.

       Bulk of delivery of coconut oil in December went to Europe totaling 61,667 MT, almost two-thirds (66.4%) of aggregate. The United States absorbed 15,765 MT representing 17.0%. The Asian market comprising of Korea with 7,500 MT, China 5,000 MT and Japan 2,914 MT was responsible for 16.6%.

       Based on data from the Philippine Coconut Authority, eight non-traditional coconut export products qualified in the top exports list, that is with export revenue of at least USD100,000 during the month.?GLYCERIN took the lead with foreign exchange receipts of USD1.314 million from shipment of 1,422 MT. The volume was more than four-fold (+368.4%) same month last year shipment of 304 MT. Top destination was Japan with 674 MT (47.4% share), followed by United States with 200 MT (14.0% share), China 141 MT (9.9%) and India 140 MT (9.8%). Seven other countries shared the remaining volume of 268 MT or 18.8%.

       Second biggest non-traditional export was VIRGIN COCONUT OIL with proceeds of USD551,720 from 215 MT. Shipment during the month rose by a whopping 130.1% from similar month year-ago at 94 MT. The U.S. and Canada remained market leaders with uptake this month respectively at 129 MT (60.0%) and 79 MT (36.9%). Others market category comprising of nine countries jointly held 7 MT (3.1%).

       COCONUT MILK POWDER took the third spot generating USD382,999 from delivery of 139 MT. Current volume shrank substantially by 38.1% from 225 MT same month year-ago. A big chunk of the shipment went to France at 127 MT or 91.4% while Germany took in 7 MT or 5.2% of total sales. Three other countries with volume 2 MT and lower jointly comprised 3.5%.

       SHAMPOO came in fourth with revenue of USD334,735. Volume which stood at 75 MT sharply dropped by 15.1% from 88 MT in same period year-ago. China was top outlet with 19 MT (25.6%), tracked by India 17 MT (22.1%), Taiwan 11 MT (15.1%), United Arab Emirates 8 MT (11.0%) and 19 others whose total volume was 20 MT.

       NATA DE COCO ranked number five with income of USD331,570 from trade of 374 MT. The volume more than doubled same month last year shipment of 176 MT. Japan was still the top buyer at 267 MT or 71.4% of total sales. Other markets were China (23 MT), United States (17 MT), Canada (15 MT) with combined share of 14.8%, and 21 others whose total volume at 51 MT collectively accounted for 13.8%.

       TOILET/BATH SOAP landed in the sixth spot with earnings of USD228,054 from sale of 66 MT. This month?s volume shrank by 74.3% from previous year at 257 MT. There were 24 country destinations with Indonesia on top capturing 27 MT or 40.7%, trailed by United Arab Emirates at 13 MT (20.1%), Malaysia at 9 MT (13.1%), and 21 other countries with combined share of 17 MT (26.2%).

       MAKAPUNO occupied the seventh place with uptake of USD179,199 from export of 98 MT. The tonnage leaped by a whopping 92.2% from same period year-ago at 51 MT. Leading destination was the United States at 26 MT (26.2%), followed by Canada at 19 MT (19.7%), United Arab Emirates at 9 MT (9.6%), Italy and Saudi Arabia at 6 MT apiece (6.2% each). Twenty other countries together shared 31 MT (32.1%).

       Figures from USDA show the United States imported 95,213 MT of lauric oils in November 2007, a whopping increase by 110.9% from 45,150 MT at the same time a year ago. Of the total, coconut oil was 73,952 MT and accounted for 77.7% while palm kernel oil was 21,261 MT and shared 22.3%. The substantial increment in import during the month was driven by coconut oil which saw a massive leap of 157.4% from year-ago at 28,729 MT. Palm kernel oil import likewise climbed by a hefty 29.5% from 16,421 MT.

       The Philippines was the leading supplier of lauric oil to the U.S. delivering only coconut oil at 64,944 MT during the month. The volume, which accounted for 68.2% of total lauric oil purchases, rocketed by 152.7% from same period year-ago total at 25,699 MT. Malaysia took the second spot with 20,781 MT, mostly comprising of palm kernel oil at 19,273 MT (12,421 MT last year), and limited amount of coconut oil at 1,508 MT (1.7 MT). The figure comprised 21.8% of total lauric oil import. Indonesia contributed 9,488 MT or 10% which was made up of 7,500 MT (3,028 MT) coconut oil and 1,988 MT (4,000 MT) palm kernel oil.

       Data from Oil World show China imported 32,100 MT of lauric oils in November 2007, dropping by 18.1% from same period year-ago total at 39,200 MT. Palm kernel oil comprised the bulk of import amounting to 21,800 MT (67.9% share) while coconut oil was 10,300 MT (32.1%). Import of coconut oil during the month grew by an appreciable 110.2% from prior year at 4,900 MT while that of palm kernel oil massively shrank by 36.4% from 34,300 MT.

       Indonesia was the country?s major source of lauric oil contributing 67.3% from delivery of 21,600 MT. This consisted of 7,200 MT of coconut oil (3,600 MT last year) and 14,400 MT of palm kernel oil (28,200 MT). Malaysia supplied 7,800 MT (6,900 MT) of which palm kernel oil was 7,400 MT (6,100 MT) and coconut oil was 400 MT (800 MT) and responsible for 24.3%. Purchases from the Philippines amounted to 2,600 MT (400 MT) of coconut oil which accounted for 8.1%. Supply from other countries was 100 MT of coconut oil (nil last year).

       The European Commission formally adopted a new biofuels legislation that sets a target of 10% use of biofuels by 2020. The regulation also requires that feedstock should be grown under the best agricultural practices and cannot be derived from crops which do not meet environmental sustainability criteria. Malaysian palm oil industry officials claim the industry does not see trade being significantly impacted by the new legislation as producers are already operating under the strict criteria and principles as laid out by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

       Indonesia?s Biofuel Producers? Association announced recently that their total production has dropped by 85% since December citing ?inconsistent policy making? by the government. The organization was particularly referring to the state-owned oil company Pertamina?s total spending on biodiesel which has not been defined as an expense item eligible for government subsidy by the Finance Ministry. This has led Pertamina to reduce biodiesel in the diesel fuel blend from 5% to 2.5% and scale down its biofuel operations due to losses.