Preliminary UCAP data reveal coconut products export in January this year aggregated only 75,635 MT copra terms. This slashed by a hefty 52.9% January year-earlier total at 160,446 MT and halved the previous month shipment estimated at 154,036 MT.

       The same source indicates half of coconut oil export during the month (50.5%) or 14,203 MT was delivered to the U.S. while more than one-third (37.4%) or 10,500 MT was channeled to Europe. Japan took in 3,400 MT or 12.1%.

       An analysis of the glycemic index (GI) of coconut sugar done at the Department of Science and Technology show it has a low level of 35, much lower than honey which has 64. GI is a measurement of how much the blood glucose rises after a food is eaten; the greater the rise in blood glucose, the higher the GI. A GI of 55 or less is low, 56-69 is medium and 70 or more is high. This new information suggests that coconut sugar may replace the expensive aspartame-based synthetic sweeteners normally used by diabetics, dieters, and those with heart problems. This finding is another breakthrough for a coconut product after virgin coconut oil, said Philippine Coconut Administrator Oscar G. Garin.

       California-based Filipino doctor Maria Evelyn Tablan had earlier asked government to conduct scientific studies on coconut sugar’s GI as a group of American doctors are interested in officially declaring its health benefits given such study. She advised that coconut sugar should be promoted as natural sweetener. She said there is no natural sweetener of this kind to date on the market but only synthetic ones.

       Figures from USDA indicate the U.S. imported 764,285 MT of lauric oils in calendar year 2006. This is 17.2% more than the previous year at 652,207 MT. Of the total, coconut oil was 491,375 MT and accounted for 64.3%; palm kernel oil was 272,910 MT and shared 36.7%. Both products exceeded respective import levels in the prior year with palm kernel oil increasing by 18.8% from 229,808 MT year-ago and coconut oil rising by 16.3% from 422,399 MT.

       The Philippines was a major origin of lauric oil imports delivering 391,390 MT, which were mainly coconut oil and limited amount of palm kernel oil at 1,000 MT. The total was responsible for 45.5% of aggregate import from all sources. Last year’s volume at 299,863 MT was solely coconut oil. Malaysia was the second biggest supplier of lauric oils contributing 40.5% at 249,378 MT. This expanded by 16.8% the prior year data at 213,499 MT. The product mix comprised largely of palm kernel oil at 223,086 MT (174,257 MT year-ago) and coconut oil at 26,292 MT (39,241 MT).

       Mr. Albert F. Mogerley, NIOP (National Institute of Oilseed Products) Technical Committee Chairman, and President of Hudson Tank Terminals, is town for his annual visit to the Philippines. He flew in from London where he attended the meeting of the Codex Committee on Fats and Oils. As before, his itinerary included a visit to a friend of longstanding, Mr. Douglas Lu Ym in Cebu City whose family hosted a dinner in his honor. He is scheduled as well to see the Luys of Interco and the CIIF Oil Mills group headed by Mr. Danilo Coronacion, among other friends in the industry.

       Cargill and The J.M. Smucker Company in a news release this week announced an agreement in which Cargill will be licensed to manufacture and market a set of foodservice oils and shortenings under the Crisco Professional™ line of “zero grams trans fat per serving” oils and shortening. The agreement initially features four distinct Crisco Professional products that have been formulated to meet the different frying needs of foodservice operators. These are: (1) Crisco Professional™ Premium Clear Frying Oil, (2) Crisco Professional™ Heavy Duty Creamy Frying Shortening, (3) Crisco Professional™ Heavy Duty Clear Frying Oil, and (4) Crisco Professional™ General Purpose Creamy Frying Shortening.

       At the recent AOCS 6th World Conference on Detergents held in Montreux , Switzerland, it was reported that consumption of Asian fatty acids in China has grown to the current 400,000 MT per year and is expected to double in 2010. M.C. Menon, vice president of marketing at Pan Century Oleochemicals in Malaysia said consumption in China is growing at the rate of 10% per year. Of particular interest is the booming demand for stearic acid which is used as plasticizer additive for PVC and other building materials.