At the UCAP Annual General Membership meeting held last Monday, May 11, 2009, at The Richmonde Hotel, the following UCAP officers/directors were elected: Chairman - Danilo M. Coronacion, (of the Philippine Coconut Oil Producers Association, PCOPA), Vice-Chairman - Jose L. Lobregat (Philippine Coconut Producers Federation, COCOFED), Treasurer - Fernando L. Uy (Philippine Coconut Research & Development Foundation), Secretary - Dean A. Lao, Jr. (Philippine Oleochemical Manufacturers Association).

       Virgin coconut oil (VCO) could be the Philippines? weapon against the deadly HINI influenza A virus, according to newly installed party-list representative and former secretary, Department of Agriculture, Leonardo Montemayor. ?This crisis can be turned into a big opportunity for our coconut farmers and processors. The high lauric acid content of VCO is known to strengthen the immune system against microbes and viruses?, he said.

       This year?s bowling tournament will be held on Thursdays, starting June 11, 2009 through to July 02, 2009, at the Coronado Lanes, 4th Level, Starmall Shopping Complex, Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. As of press time, the following teams have confirmed their participation: United Coconut Planters Bank, the defending champion; Chemrez Technologies, Dumaguete Coconut Mills, Interasia Marine Transport, Intertek Testing Services Phils., Minola (CIIF Oil Mills), Raco-Transeaboard, Sakamoto Orient Chemicals, Mixed Nuts (EU Sons Trading, Iligan Bay Milling and Trading, Mitsubishi Living Essentials, Pacific Royal Basic Foods).

       Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority show nine non-traditional coconut products made it to the top non-traditional exports list in January. A product should generate at least USD100,000 during the month to be in the list. For this month, the products included in the list were: coconut milk powder, glycerin, nata de coco, virgin coconut oil, coconut flour, liquid coconut milk, toilet/bath soap, shampoo and baled coir.

       COCONUT MILK POWDER was the leading non-traditional export with revenue of USD843,093 from export of 230 MT. The volume rocketed by 183.9% from same month last year shipment of 81 MT. Top destination was France with 64 MT (27.7% share), tracked by Malaysia 63 MT (27.4%), Sri lanka 48 MT (20.8%), United States 24 MT (10.4 %). Other countries such as Netherlands 16 MT, Japan 13 MT and Korea 3 MT jointly shared 14.0%.

       GLYCERIN was a strong second with foreign exchange receipts of USD723,300 from transactions amounting to 493 MT. Volume, however, massively dropped by 69.6% from 1,624 MT at the same time last year. Japan captured the biggest chunk with 190 MT (38.5%), followed by Russia and South Africa with 60 MT apiece (12.2%), and New Zealand 40 MT (8.1%) and Others, mainly Indonesia, Malaysia, Denmark, Egypt, and Taiwan with import aggregating 143 MT (29.1%) took in between 20 MT and 23 MT.

       NATA DE COCO took the third spot with income of USD481,042 from sale of 529 MT. Tonnage during the month rose by a whopping 204% from similar month year-ago at 174 MT. Virtually all shipments went to Japan with 478 MT (90.4%). Limited volumes went to Hongkong, United States, Canada, Singapore, Australia, and Guam with combined load of 40 MT (7.5%). Others category comprising of 10 countries took in a total of 11 MT (2.1%).

       VIRGIN COCONUT OIL came in fourth with revenue of USD286,189 from delivery of 64 MT. The volume cut by 22.9% prior year data at 83 MT. The United States was almost an exclusive market with uptake at 59 MT (92.7%). Limited volumes were channeled to United Kingdom and Finland at 2 MT apiece, while six other countries held a total of 1 MT.

       COCONUT FLOUR ranked number five with earnings of USD199,964 from shipment of 239 MT. The volume eclipsed by 171.6% prior year data at 88 MT. Cambodia was leading buyer capturing 113 MT (47.1%) while Jordan handled 94 MT (39.2%). Other destinations were Hongkong with 18 MT and United States 15 MT.

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK landed in sixth place with gross export receipts of USD194,786 from 135 MT export. Total delivery during the month cut prior year figure at 154 MT by 12.3%. The United States was the biggest outlet cornering 58 MT (43.0%), trailed by Japan at 38 MT (28.5%), Netherlands and Belgium at 18 MT apiece and Canada 2 MT .

       TOILET/BATH SOAP which filled in the seventh slot, earned USD147,222 from purchases of 76 MT. Volume, however, dropped by 49.3% from prior year at 150 MT. Indonesia was top buyer with import of 20 MT (26.5%), tracked by Malaysia at 18 MT (23.9%), Korea at 17 MT (22.7%), United Arab Emirates at 10 MT (13.4%). Fifteen other countries led by Saudi Arabia took in much lesser volume of no more than 3 MT.

       SHAMPOO was the eighth top export and grossed USD145,401 after trading 48 MT. Current volume shrank substantially by 47.8% from 92 MT in a similar month year-ago. Malaysia was market leader responsible for 21 MT (44.3%), followed by Thailand at 15 MT (31.4%). Sixteen other countries led by UAE took in much lesser volume no bigger than 3 MT.

       Indonesia is to set a standard price for palm oil exports in order to protect the local market from price fluctuations in the international market, says Bayu Krisnamurthi, Indonesian deputy coordinating minister for the economy. Presently, the palm oil trade uses the commodity market price in Rotterdam as its standard. The new standard price to be introduced will be based on the average export price from Belawan or Dumai ports combined with the auction price of Perkebunan Nusantara and other big traders, Bayu said, and will be in effect within the year.

       The Government of Sri Lanka is bent to protect the country?s coconut industry. It said it will not hesitate to impose tax on palm oil imports as a precautionary measure. DM Jayaratne, minister of Plantation Industries told a meeting of coconut industry representatives in Colombo that the government has already increased the taxes on palm oil and palm kernel oil to a considerable level.

       The Environmental Protection Agency?s (EPA) draft of changes to the US Renewable Fuels Standard while proving friendlier to maize-based ethanol has worried the soybean biodiesel sector as it will not meet the requirements for the new standards. To qualify toward the annual targets, the 2007 energy law says biodiesel must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% compared with conventional diesel. EPA is crediting biodiesel made from soya oil with only 22% reduction.