Export of Philippine coconut products in March, based on preliminary UCAP data, reached only 81,929 MT copra terms. The volume shrank by 65.5% from March year-ago at 237,476 MT and slid by 6.2% from prior month total estimated at 87,313 MT. Revenue likewise dropped sharply to an estimated USD37.571 million from USD82.516 million year-ago. Totals exclude income from oleochemicals.

       Oleochemicals remained the only bright spot posting huge gain of 105.8% year-on-year at 11,106 MT copra terms from 5,397 MT. Coconut oil suffered massive loss with volume at just 34,371 MT, squeezing by 74.5% prior year figure at 134,775 MT. The last time this level was seen was in August 1999 at 34,423 MT. Copra meal at 23,863 MT clipped year-ago total at 34,802 MT by 31.4%. Desiccated coconut reflected moderate decline of 10.4% at 10,521 MT from 11,740 MT.

       Two-thirds of coconut oil export in March or 22,950 MT was delivered to the European market. The U.S. took in much lower volume at 5,000 MT while Japan and Canada held respectively 3,825 MT and 2,596 MT, for corresponding market shares of 14.5%, 11.1% and 7.6%.

       Data from the National Statistics Office show Philippine import of vegetable oils in 2006 increased marginally by 0.6% to 237,860 MT from 236,426 MT in 2005. Palm oil, the leading import which accounted for 83.0% of total deliveries during the year, reduced volume slightly by 5.1% to 197,477 MT from 208,039 MT. Second biggest import was soybean oil with 27,048 MT (11,781 MT year-ago) and shared 11.4%.

       Malaysia remained a leading source of imported vegetable oils in 2006 responsible for 72.3% at 172,048 MT of which palm oil was 144,281 MT and soybean oil 24,110 MT, to account for 83.9% and 14.0% respectively of total supply from the country. Apart from being top supplier of palm oil, Malaysia also led in soybean oil as well as in palm kernel oil with 2,158 MT and was second major source of sunflower oil at 809 MT. Indonesia was far second with 53,227 MT (22.4% share) bulk of which at 51,385 MT was palm oil. The country is also another major origin of palm kernel oil import with 1,800 MT.

       CITEM (Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions) Executive Director and Department of Trade & Industry Assistant Secretary Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes said her office is organizing the country’s first ever participation in the Chicago trade show to be held from May 6 to 8 this year. Reyes said the Chicago fair, organized by the Food Marketing Institute is considered as the largest and most comprehensive food industry event in North America.

       Figures from USDA show U.S. import of lauric oils in February this year amounted to 49,278 MT, an appreciable reduction by 34.6% from February year-before at 75,347 MT. Of this total, coconut oil accounted for 63.3% or 31,169 MT (48,828 MT in the prior year) while palm kernel oil shared 36.7% or 18,109 MT (26,519 MT). Bulk of lauric oil supply came from the Philippines at 30,329 MT of coconut oil (37,019 MT) representing 61.5% of the pack. Malaysia’s share of 36.8% consisted largely of palm kernel oil at 18,109 MT (22,535 MT) and limited amount of coconut oil at 15 MT (6,808 MT). Shipment from Indonesia was solely coconut oil at 824 MT (5,001 MT) and contributed 1.7%. Last year, however, import from the country also included 3,984 MT of palm kernel oil.

       Figures from the Coconut Development Authority in Sri Lanka show the country exported 3,407 MT of desiccated coconut in November last year, an appreciable increase by 32.6% from 2,570 MT at the same time year-earlier.The shipment was worth USD3.290 million. Average traded price during the month was USD966/MT FOB, a modest rise by 7.1% from USD902 MT year-ago. Cumulative January-November figure at 37,834 MT dwarfed a comparable prior year period total at 30,917 MT by 22.4%.

       Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in collaboration with a Birmingham, Ala., company Folia, Inc. discovered a new environmentally friendly ingredient derived from cornstarch for use in laundry and dishwashing detergents. Under a four year cooperative agreement, ARS scientists Randy Shogren and J.L. Willet have worked with Folia scientists and others to develop a detergent additive-called a “cobuilder”, which prevents the formulation of crusty deposits known as “scale” that causes harm ranging from discolored clothing and cloudy dishes to diminished cooling and washer damage.