Official figures from the Philippine Coconut Authority show the Philippines exported more coconut products in December 2007 compared to a similar month a year earlier. The total for the month at 195,055 MT in copra terms was an appreciable rise by 21.9% from 159,999 MT in the prior year. Gross export receipts, however, nearly doubled at USD138.190 million from USD76.223 million largely boosted by substantial purchases of coconut oil at sharply improved prices.

       Of major exports, coconut oil and copra meal reported significant increases in volume traded while desiccated coconut and oleochemicals reflected shortfalls. Coconut oil shipment leaped 27.9% year-on-year to 109,501 MT from 85,622 MT; copra meal shot up 90.3% to 56,646 MT from 29,764 MT. On the other hand, export of desiccated coconut lightly dropped by 3.5% to 9,154 MT from 9,488 MT; oleochemicals shrank 24.7% to 7,091 MT as copra from 9,422 MT. Other products performed as follows, in MT: coco shell charcoal 2,532 (+91.7% from 1,321 last year); activated carbon 2,705 ( -10.6% from 3,027); glycerin 1,646 (+124.7% from 733); fresh coconuts 121 (-1.8% from 123), Others 2,005 (+49.2% from 1,343).

       Export of coconut oil in December consisted of 92,040 MT crude coconut oil (CNO), 14,081 MT cochin oil (refined bleached oil), and 3,381 MT RBD coconut oil. Bulk of the month’s shipment went to the European market with 78,427 MT (71.6% of total) made up largely of CNO at 71,427 MT and smaller volume of cochin oil at 7,000 MT. Within the territory, Netherlands was responsible for 66,324 MT made up of 59,324 MT CNO and 7,000 MT cochin oil, making the country the single biggest country importer of coconut oil from the Philippines with market share of 60.6%. Other European buyers were Italy with 8,900 MT and Spain with 3,203 MT, all of which were CNO.

       Desiccated coconut trade had the widest coverage in December with 46 country destinations as against monthly average of 40. The United States remained the top market with 2,645 MT (28.9%). The next three major importers were Australia 698 MT, Netherland 644 MT and United Kingdom 500 MT, which jointly made up 20.1% of the market.

       Japan still ranked number one as coconut shell products destination. As top buyer of coco shell charcoal in December, turnover at 1,871 MT accounted for 73.9%. China and Hongkong landed second and third, with respective volume of 285 MT (11.2%) and 273 MT (10.8%). Other outlets were Korea 66 MT and Taiwan 38 MT.

       Oil World figures show Chinese import of lauric oils in January this year was higher than January last year. Total at 36,100 MT significantly rose by 20.3% from 30,000 MT previously, mainly on massive increase in coconut oil delivery. However, palm kernel oil at 22,600 MT (27,300 MT year-ago) represented a bigger share in the lauric oil mix at 62.6% and the balance of 37.4% was coconut oil at 13,500 MT (2,700 MT).

       Figures from USDA show lauric oils import of the United States in January this year was slightly down by 6.3% to 72,143 MT from 76,993 MT at the same time year-ago as shipment of palm kernel oil dwindled markedly by 23.1%. Of this total, coconut oil accounted for 65.3% or 47,106 MT (44,420 MT in the prior year) while palm kernel oil shared 34.7% or 25,037 MT (32,573 MT).

       Argentina, the world’s third biggest exporter of soybean and products, has introduced a new measure passed last week that uses a sliding-scale system and effectively raises the export tax regime for soybeans, soybean oil, sunflower oil, sunflower seeds and meals. The new measure will see a significant increase in the existing price structure used to determine the tax rate for exports, which has angered farmers’ groups. At the same time, the government raised the flat-rate export duty on biodiesel to 20% from the current 5% with a view to make the rates more similar to those applied to other oilseed by-products.

       Thailand’s Energy Ministry is considering setting up a national crude palm oil reserve in order to secure supplies to serve both the food sector and biodiesel production. Energy Ministry Permanent Secretary Pornchai Rujiprapa said the move should prevent crude palm shortages, which have been prevalent since early this year. The use of B2, a blend of 2 percent biodiesel with petro-diesel, became mandatory in February that resulted in shortage of crude palm oil and the consequent rise in the prices of cooking palm oil. The reserve policy would also help prepare for the introduction of B5, now undergoing market testing, which is expected to replace B2 by 2011.