Preliminary UCAP data show coconut products export leapfrogged in March to 238,585 MT measured in copra terms from 89,097 MT in March last year (+167.8%). The total also jumped from unofficial February data at 154,291 MT by a whopping 54.6%.

       All export products under review with the exception of desiccated coconut achieved explosive growth from last year. Copra meal led the charge with volume at 64,653 MT rising by a phenomenal high of 763.0% from 7,492 MT last year; oleochemicals likewise skyrocketed by 532.7% to 15,837 MT in copra terms from 2,503 MT and coconut oil shot up by 194.6% to 131,459 MT from 44,620 MT. Desiccated coconut in contrast scaled back shipment by 10.7% at 9,109 MT from 10,199 MT.

       Europe was primary destination of coconut oil during the month with import at 54,950 MT accounting for 41.8% of total sales. The US followed with purchases at 43,057 MT representing nearly a third (32.8%) of total. Malaysia and China also took in substantial volume respectively at 12,550 MT and 12,449 MT for market share of 9.5% apiece. Other destinations were Japan with 5,900 MT, Korea 2,450 MT and Pakistan 103 MT.

       Based on Philippine Coconut Authority data, there were seven non-traditional coconut export products that qualified in the top exports list in non-traditional products category, having export revenue of at least USD100,000 during the month. Topping the list was GLYCERIN which grossed more than a million dollars in January this year at USD1.638 million from export of 1,850 MT. The volume rocketed by 275.4% from same month last year shipment of 493 MT. Top destination was Japan with 1,260 MT (68.1% share), followed far behind by China 326 MT (17.6%) and Russia 134 MT (7.3%). Limited volume went to Korea at 57 MT, Malaysia at 23 MT, New Zealand and Pakistan at 20 MT apiece and Taiwan at 10 MT.

       TOILET/BATH SOAP was the second biggest non-traditional export with foreign exchange receipts of USD600,143 from 393 MT sales. This month?s volume was a massive 417.7% leap from 76 MT in a similar month year-ago. Thailand at 106 MT and Vietnam at 105 MT were the market leaders with respective share of 26.9% and 26.8%. Smaller volumes went to Malaysia at 67 MT (17.1%); Indonesia and Saudi Arabia at 37 MT apiece, Korea at 10 MT, United Arab Emirates and Denmark at 8 MT apiece, and 16 other countries with combined uptake of 15 MT.

       COCONUT MILK POWDER took the third spot with income of USD275,428 from purchases of 88 MT. Quantity, however, slumped by 61.9% from 230 MT at the same time last year. Japan and France were major buyers capturing 26 MT apiece, followed by Taiwan at 18 MT, China at 12 MT and Belgium 7 MT.

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK came in fourth with revenue of USD225,296. Tonnage which stood at 131 MT was 4 MT short of same period year-ago total at 135 MT. There were six country recipients led by Japan at 51 MT (39.0%), closely followed by Brazil at 50 MT (38.1%), then Mexico at 16 MT (12.4%), United States at 10 MT (7.7%). Limited volume went to Canada 2 MT and Belgium 1 MT.

       VIRGIN COCONUT OIL ranked number five with revenue of USD204,393 from delivery of 62 MT. The load reflected a deficit of 3.3% from the prior year data at 64 MT. The United States captured the biggest chunk with 30 MT (48.7%), followed by Belgium with 18 MT (29.2%). Smaller volume of 3 MT each went to Taiwan, Italy and Malaysia, while Sweden held 2 MT. Six other countries bought the remaining volume of 3 MT.

       NATA DE COCO was in sixth position with turnover of USD141,138 after trading 83 MT. Current volume shrank substantially by 84.3% from 529 MT in a similar month year-ago. Japan was still the top outlet with 43 MT (51.8%), followed far behind by the U.S. with 10 MT (12.5%), and smaller quantities going to Canada 6 MT, Australia 5 MT, Hawaii 4 MT, United Kingdom 3 MT and Saudi Arabia 2 MT. Twelve other countries held 11 MT.

       President Gloria Arroyo recently signed Republic Act (RA) 10068, also known as The Organic Agriculture Act of 2010, which aims to promote organic farming to reduce pollution and protect the health of farmers and consumers. Organic farming as defined by the law is the production of farm products without the use of chemicals or pesticides, but excludes the cultivation of genetically modified organisms.

       RA 10068 mandates the Trade and Finance Departments, Land Bank of the Philippines, and other government institutions to help producers of organic inputs and organic farmers by providing them with financial, technical and marketing resources. The incentives for micro, small and medium-scale organic farmers include the following: 1) exemption from the payment of import duties on agricultural equipment and machinery, 2) provision by Land bank of preferential rates and special windows to organic input producers, 3) subsidies for certification fees and other support services to facilitate organic certification, 4) zero value-added tax on the purchase of organic inputs or bio-organic produce, 5) income tax holiday and exemption for seven years, starting from the date of registration of organic food and organic input producers, from all income taxes.

       According to collated country data from the Philippine Coconut Authority and Sri Lanka?s Coconut Development Authority, combined export of desiccated coconut from the Philippines and Sri Lanka, the world?s major desiccated coconut producers, dropped sharply in January this year. Total at 9,218 MT fell by a hefty 38.2% from 14,927 MT in a similar month last year as both countries heavily scaled back shipments.

       Two senior doctors writing in the British Medical Journal said, banning artificial trans fats in the UK could prevent 11,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths a year. Artificial trans fats are produced by partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils, a process that turns them into semi-solids, giving them a higher melting point and longer shelf-life, thereby making them better suited for use in the food industry. However, studies show consumption of trans fats raise the risk of heart disease, as they lower levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL, or ?good? cholesterol) and raise levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL, or ?bad? cholesterol).

       Biodiesel Amsterdam will start producing biodiesel at its facility in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in October this year. Part of the Greenmills complex, the facility will be manufacturing biodiesel from a 50:50 blend of tallow and used cooking oil (UCO). Apart from Biodiesel Amsterdam, the Greenmills concept consists of Rotie Vetveredeling and Tankstorage Amsterdam en Orgaworld.