For week ending Feb. 01, 2007

       Cumulative January-October 2006 data at 1,706,337 MT copra terms exceeded by 4.5% a comparable year-earlier period total at 1,632,521 MT. Breakdown is as follows, in MT: coconut oil 902,081 (860,250), copra meal 373,054 (334,396), desiccated coconut 115,367 (104,967), oleochemicals as copra 96,098 (104,758), coco shell charcoal 21,570 (21,551), activated carbon 28,381 (28,445), glycerine 9,586 (15,399), fresh coconuts 1,885 (2,569), Others 23,001 (21,075).

       Korea remained top copra meal buyer at 24,300 MT or nearly two-thirds of total sales (63.6%). Vietnam was still second at 5,927 MT for a market share of 15.5%. Taiwan and Japan each held 4,000 MT and contributed 10.5% apiece.

       Desiccated coconut export was channeled to 43 country destinations of which 21 held volumes no lower than 100 MT and jointly comprised 93.3% of the market. U.S. was top market absorbing 3,074 MT which corresponded to 27.9% share, followed by Germany with 1,462 MT to account for 13.3%, then Netherlands with 1,038 MT (9.4% share). A second group of importers consisted of Canada 903 MT, Australia 545 MT, and United Kingdom 541 MT with combined share of 18.0%. The third group (100-457 MT) which consisted of, in descending order: Belgium, Korea, Taiwan, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Poland, France, China, Turkey, Norway, Denmark, Mexico, Japan, Egypt, together contributed 24.7%. Twenty-two other countries made up the remaining 6.7% of the market with uptakes ranging 10-76 MT.

       Japan’s marker share in activated carbon was 35.2% at 963 MT. The U.S. was responsible for a smaller fraction of 11.9% with 325 MT and was closely tracked by France with 11.3% at 308 MT. Other substantial buyers were, in MT: Germany 247, Korea 136, and Ghana 131, with combined share of 18.8%. Fifteen other countries jointly held 22.8% equivalent to 625 MT with intake ranging 8-99 MT.

       The research group found a way to mix oil, water, monoglycerides and fatty acids to form a gel substance that provides the same structural and functional benefits as trans fats and saturated fats. In addition, the new structured vegetable oil has been found to release fats in a more controlled way. By regulating the amount of insulin produced by the body after a meal, controlled release of lipids in the blood may help lower the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes. “People talk about controlled release in prescription drugs; we’re talking about controlled release of food components”, said Prof. Marangoni.

       Despite a desire to maintain a uniform taste for its fries worldwide, the company could not use this US-developed oil in other areas as regional differences in agricultural production required development of different blends. For example, its 740 restaurants in Australia have switched ahead last November to a blend of canola oil and sunflower oil. Its 6,300 restaurants in Europe will switch to one of three various canola oil blends later this year or early next year, with the first countries to use the new oils being Sweden, Norway, and Finland.

       In a move to calm inflationary pressures, the government of India has reduced import duties on palm oil and sunflower oil products. Crude palm oil and palm olein duties are now at 60% from 70% previously. Refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm oil and palm olein are now levied 67.5% from 80% before. Import duty on crude sunflower oil has been trimmed down to 65% from 75% while on RBD sunflower oil cut to 75% from 85%. The lower duties are expected to make edible oil prices cheaper in the local market. On the other hand, it could firm up prices of Malaysian and Indonesian palm oil.

       Some 10.3 million farmers in 22 countries planted genetically engineered crops on 102 million hectares last year, expanding over 2005 level by 13%. Most popular biotech crops were soybean, corn, cotton and canola. The top three countries to grow engineered crops during the year were the U.S. (54.6 million hectares), Argentina (18.0 million hectares), and Brazil (11.5 million hectares), mostly planted to soybean. India, on the other hand expanded area of genetically engineered cotton last year to three times the 2005 level to 3.8 million hectares. The advocacy group expects more biotech corn seed will be planted this year due to the recent boom in ethanol production.

       Mr. Thomas Mielke, publisher of Oil World, Germany will keynote the opening plenary session, to be followed by presentations featuring overviews of the biodiesel industry in Asia, Europe, and North America. Parallel sessions will be held on the following subjects: Environmental aspects, Glycerol, Feedstock supply, Overview of government policy and tax situation worldwide, Fuel properties consideration, New production technologies, Quality assurance specifications, New engine design/engines of the future, Life cycle and sustainability analysis, General topics.