Last Tuesday’s Cocohouse Chinese New Year luncheon sponsored by the brokers’ group, the Association of Coconut Brokers, Inc. (ACBI) led by UCAP Director Enrique J. Uy was well attended. Members enjoyed the Yee Sang prosperity menu, including the ritual, prepared by the Summer Palace restaurant of the EDSA Shangri-la Hotel. Everyone was hopeful the New Year would bring prosperity and good health for all in the coconut industry. The event was capped by a birthday song for Mr. Manuel J. Igual, Igual Commodities, who was celebrating his 79th birthday on that day, February 19.

       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 export list. Leading the pack was GLYCERIN which earned USD1.487 million from the export of 1,585 MT. The volume during the month rose 63.1% from 972 MT in the same period year-ago. Top destination was Japan with 697 MT (44.0% share), followed by China with 509 MT (32.1%); limited volume went to United States at 79 MT and Spain at 42 MT. Ten other countries shared the remaining load of 257 MT.

       Second biggest non-traditional export was NATA de COCO with export receipts of USD457,910 from sale of 469 MT. Delivery during month shot up by 86.9% from 262 MT year-ago. There were 26 recipients of the product led by Japan, which took in 369 MT representing 78.7% of the total traded volume. The next two big buyer countries were United States with 32 MT and Korea with19 MT, while twenty-three other countries led by United Arab Emirates took in volume no higher than 9 MT.

       VIRGIN COCONUT OIL took the third spot with income of USD358,887. The month’s total was 118 MT, a whopping increase by 142.8% from 49 MT year-ago. The United States captured the biggest portion at 63 MT trailed by Canada at 53 MT, for respective market share of 53.0% and 44.5% of the total trade. Seven other countries shared the remaining volume of 3 MT.

       SHAMPOO ranked number four with proceeds of USD343,000 from the sale of 84 MT. Tonnage during the month was 15.5% higher against the previous year at 73 MT. Top three destinations were Taiwan at 27 MT, Thailand at 18 MT and Kuwait at 10 MT, with respective share of 31.7%, 21.7% and 11.6% of sales. Malaysia led the group of 17 countries that imported no higher than 6 MT.

       TOILET/BATH SOAP landed fifth with turnover of USD226,736. Volume at 89 MT plunged rapidly by 64.3% from 249 MT of the previous year. Indonesia was top buyer of the month responsible for 37 MT or 41.3% of total delivery, tracked by Singapore at 20 MT, Australia at 9 MT and U.A.E at 7 MT. Sixteen other countries shared the remaining volume of 17 MT or 18.6%.

       MAKAPUNO was the top sixth top export and earned USD212,650 from the delivery of 103 MT. Shipment during the month soared by a whopping 91.5% from previous year at 54 MT. The United States was leading buyer cornering 59 MT or 57.2% of total trade. Twenty country buyers with limited purchases of at most 8 MT was led by Canada.

       COCONUT MILK POWDER came in seventh place and generated income of USD189,045 from 72 MT export. This month’s volume reduced by 56.1% year-ago figure at 164 MT. Japan and France were the top destinations with uptake of 26 MT apiece, tracked by Dominican Republic at 18 MT. Two other countries took in much lesser volume no bigger than 2 MT.

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK which earned USD168,258 from export of 122 MT (103 MT year-ago) filled in the eighth place. Japan was the primary buyer at 78 MT or 64.0% of total sales. Limited volume went to Canada at 17 MT (13.8%) and Netherlands at 16 MT (12.8%) while four other countries shared the remaining 11 MT or 9.4%.

       AgriNutri Inc. (ANI), a big supplier to Philippines’ largest supermarket chain and exporter of fresh and processed fruits and vegetables announced plans to tap the equities market to raise funds for expansion and brand acquisition. Antonio L. Tiu, ANI chief executive expressed optimism on the prospects of the company as it would be the first agricultural firm to list at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

       ANI’s farming operations presently provides 5-10% of the company’s required produce for clients like SM Hypermart and SM Supermarkets through the SM Bonus brand; Marca Pina; and Lipa Buko. About 90% of its fresh fruits and vegetable requirements come from other farms. Thus the fresh capital would allow the firm to increase its farm holdings so that 50% of its fresh produce would come from its farms.

       One potential obstacle to achieve greater efficiency in the world biofuels market is confusion over differing and sometimes conflicting standards for characterizing the makeup and properties of biofuels. To address this condition, the governments of the US, Brazil, and EC on behalf of the EU convened a task force of fuel standards experts from standards developing organizations (SDO) namely, ASTM International, the Brazilian Technical Standards Association (ABNT) and the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), to compare critical specifications in existing standards used globally for pure bioethanol and biodiesel.