There were nine non-traditional coconut export products that made it to the 2009 top non-traditional exports list based on generated revenue of at least USD1.2 million. The list included the following: glycerin, nata de coco, coconut milk powder, virgin coconut oil, toilet/bath soap, liquid coconut milk, shampoo, makapuno and alkanolamide. The combined revenue of the group amounted to USD47.770 million.

       Leading the pack was GLYCERIN which earned USD17.779 million from export of 20,127 MT. Volume, however, slid by 1.3% from 20,398 MT year-ago. Top destination was Japan with 10,737 MT (53.3% share), followed far behind by China with 5,751 MT (28.6%). Limited volume went to Russia 637 MT, Malaysia 472 MT, Korea 451 MT, New Zealand 297 MT and Denmark 115 MT, with a combined share of 9.8%. Twenty-two other countries shared the remaining volume of 1,666 MT (8.3%).

       For the month of December, as top monthly performer, glycerin earned USD649,038 from export of 926 MT. Volume, however, massively dropped by 54.6% from 2,043 MT at the same time last year. China captured the biggest chunk with 431 MT (46.5%), followed by Japan 213 MT (22.9%). Seven other countries jointly shared 30.5% for a total volume of 283 MT.

       Second biggest non-traditional export was NATA DE COCO with gross receipts of USD6.034 million from sale of 6,051 MT. The year?s volume was 18.3% higher than the previous year at 5,113 MT. Japan was the biggest buyer at 4,713 MT or 77.9% of total sales. The USA at 359 MT, UAE 282 MT, Canada 125 MT, collectively shared 12.7% while 42 other countries with aggregate uptake of 572 MT contributed 9.5%.

       For the month of December, Nata de Coco was the fourth leading performer with revenue of USD399,408 from delivery of 383 MT to record a substantial shortfall by 50.5% from prior year data at 774 MT. Japan was almost an exclusive market with import of 259 MT (67.7%). The remaining 32.3% went to 19 other countries.

        COCONUT MILK POWDER took the third spot with income of USD5.696 million from shipment of 1,791 MT, a sharply reduced tonnage compared to 1,100 MT in the previous year (-79.2%). This year?s export went 26 countries led by Malaysia which cornered 37.9% of total trade at 678 MT, followed by France at 318 MT (17.7%), Japan 251 MT (14.0%), Sri Lanka 145 MT (8.1%) and USA at 126 MT (7.0%). The remaining 274 MT or 15.3% was distributed to 21 other countries.

       In December, Coconut Milk Powder was the sixth top export with earnings of of USD218,065 from 71 MT shipment. The volume cut prior year figure at 254 MT by 67.0%. Malaysia was top buyer with import of 25 MT (35.1%), tracked by USA at 21 MT (29.1%), Netherlands 15 MT (21.7%) and China 5 MT (7.6%). Four other countries contributed the remaining volume of 5 MT or 6.5%.

        VIRGIN COCONUT OIL came in fourth most traded non-traditional export product during the year with revenue of USD5.587 million from shipment of 1,801 MT. Compared to previous year total at 1,639 MT, this year?s volume rose by 9.9%. Market leaders were USA at 1,082 MT and Canada at 496MT, for respective market share of 60.1% and 24.1%. Other markets were Germany at 56 MT, Belgium at 41 MT and Australia at 23 MT which jointly held 6.7% while 36 other countries together accounted for 5.7% or 107 MT.

       For the month of December, Virgin Coconut Oil landed in the third spot with income of USD522,611 from business involving 173 MT, a higher volume by 42.9% from December year-ago at 121 MT. USA was a consistent market leader with import during the month of 92 MT (53.3%), tracked by Canada at 76 MT (44.1%). Other outlets were United Kingdom at 2 MT, Japan and France took 1 MT apiece.

        TOILET/BATH SOAP ranked number five export valued at USD4.782 million. The year?s volume was 1,915 MT, 19.1% short of 2008 level at 2,366 MT. Thailand was top market responsible for 641 MT (33.5%), trailed by UAE 276 MT (14.4%), Saudi Arabia 191 MT (10.0%), Malaysia 160 MT (8.3%), Indonesia 163 MT (8.5%) and Singapore 157 MT (8.2%). Forty-one other countries took in the remaining 327 MT (17.1%).

        Last December, Toilet/Bath Soap was second biggest export with foreign exchange receipts of USD571,646 from transactions amounting to 211 MT. The volume rose by 37.0% from same month last year at 154 MT. Top destination during the month was Thailand with 108 MT (51.3%), followed by Malaysia 28 MT (13.4%), Singapore 27 MT (12.7%) and UAE 25 MT (11.7%). Fifteen other countries together represented 10.9% of total trade.

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK filled in the sixth slot in non-traditional exports list in 2009 after generating USD3.228 million from delivery of 1,932 MT, an improvement by 47.5% from previous year at 1,310 MT. The product had slightly more outlets (28) compared to the powder form (26). The major buyers were Japan with 458 MT (23.7%), USA 426 MT (22.1%), Brazil 425 MT (22.0%), Netherlands 152 MT (7.9%), Belgium 127 MT (6.6%). Twenty-three other countries had combined uptake of 343 MT (17.7%)

       However, Liquid Coconut Milk was number seven in the list in December with earnings of USD197,979 from purchases of 91 MT. Volume, however, dropped by 34.0% from prior year at 138 MT. USA was the month?s market leader with 21 MT (23.3%). Other markets were Belgium (18 MT), Canada (15MT), France (13 MT), Taiwan and China (12 MT apiece).

        SHAMPOO was the seventh leading export in 2009 and earned USD2.062 million from trade of 551 MT. Volume during the year was 30.5% lower than previous year at 793 MT. Singapore was leading buyer at 139 MT (25.2%), followed by Mongolia at 74 MT (13.5%), UAE 67 MT (12.2%), Saudi Arabia 40 MT (7.2%), Malaysia at 34 MT (6.1%) and Taiwan 28 MT (5.1%). Other 38 countries shared the remaining volume of 170 MT or 30.8%.

       For the month of December, Shampoo ranked number five with earnings of USD330,358. Total load which stood at 53 MT was up sharply by 39.5% from 38 MT in the same period year-ago. Taiwan was the top outlet with 23 MT (43.4%), followed by Mongolia with 13 MT (23.7%). Seventeen other countries were jointly responsible for the remainder.

        MAKAPUNO was eighth biggest export with revenue of USD1.346 million. Sales volume at 722 MT was 24.8% behind year-ago at 960 MT. This year?s market leaders were USA at 309 MT and Canada at 138 MT, for respective market share of 42.9% and 19.2%. There were 37 other importing countries which collectively accounted for 274 MT or 37.9%.

       In December, Makapuno did not figure in the top export list with revenue of less than USD100,000 at USD95,403. Volume was 53 MT, 13.1% off from prior year at 61 MT. USA with 25 MT and Canada with 13 MT respectively shared 47.4% and 25.0%. The rest comprising of 14 countries together bought 16 MT or 27.6%.

        Completing the top nine non-traditional exports for 2009 was ALKANOMIDE which earned USD 1.252 million from export of 847 MT (1,871 MT year-ago). Major buyers were Thailand with 148 MT (17.4%), Syria 112 MT (13.2%), Canada 104 MT (12.2%), Mexico 100 MT (11.8%) and Turkey 97 MT (11.5%). A dozen other countries shared the remainder of 286 MT or 33.8%.

       The Department of Trade reports that five food exporters are poised to improve sales to Europe after having been certified as complying with international standards following a state-run training program. The pilot program, directed towards 10 firms, was conducted by the Philippine Trade Training Center with the goal of helping the exporters secure ISO 22000 in Food Management System. ?With the emergence of food-borne diseases worldwide, importers, especially from the European Union, prefer to buy products from ISO 22000-aligned or -certified companies,? the department said, noting the significant share of food in the country?s total export sales.

       Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo R. del Rosario said the province?s 532 hectares of oil palm would have to increase nearly 10 times to 5,000 ha within the next three years to achieve the status. ?I believe we have a high potential for palm oil since Davao del Norte is one of the most suitable areas for oil palm plantation,? the governor said, citing the good quality of soil and fair weather enjoyed by the province.

       Chemrez Technologies Inc., the country?s top biodiesel, resins and oleochemical producer, reported that its consolidated net income jumped 26% to Php468 million last year from Php372 million registered in 2008 as sales grew despite the global economic crisis and the impact of strong typhoons in 2009. The green technology innovator reported that its net profit margin improved to 9% from 8% in 2008 while earnings per share increased to P0.35 from P0.28 in 2008.

       ChemrezTech said the higher profits came on the back of a 10% gain in consolidated sales to Php5.1 billion in 2009 from the Php4.66 billion reported in the previous year. ?This was due to higher sales volume, primarily the approval of the 2% biodiesel mandate, or B2, effective February 2009 and higher sales of other oleochemicals,? said ChemrezTech. Though the company sold more biodiesel in 2009 than in 2008, profit margin for this product decreased substantially, due to intense competition.

       Figures from Sri Lanka?s Coconut Development Authority (CDA) show the country?s export of desiccated coconut in December 2009 sharply dropped by 37.4% to 2,500 MT from 3,997 MT in the same month year-ago. The shipment was worth USD3.281 million as against USD5.197 million year-ago. Average traded price during the month at USD1,312.48/MT FOB rose by a minimal 0.9% from prior year at USD1,300.45/MT.

        Export during the month went to some 30 various countries. The top five importers held volumes above 100 MT and collectively accounted for 77.1% of total trade. Leading the pack was UAE/Dubai with 521 MT (20.8% share), followed by UAR/Egypt with 394 MT (15.8%), Iran 349 MT (14.0%), Saudi Arabia 233 MT (9.3%), Pakistan 160 MT (6.4%), Portugal 152 MT (6.1%) and Germany 118 MT (4.7%). The remaining 23 other countries accounted for 573 MT or 22.9% and had uptake ranging from a low of 1 MT to a high of 88 MT.