All systems go for the tournament which starts on Friday, August 28, 2009 at the Smashville, 100 Autocamp, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City. The four-Friday playoff which ends on September 18, 2009, is sponsored by the following: Gold Sponsors: Cargill Philippines, Chemrez Technologies, Minola (CIIF Oil Mills Group), Pilipinas Kao, and United Coconut Planters Bank; Silver Sponsors: EU Sons Trading, Pure Essence International, and Toepfer International-Asia Pte. Ltd.

       Preliminary UCAP data show export of coconut products in July shot up by 55.3% to 215,877 MT in copra terms from 138,969 MT in a similar month last year. This is the third consecutive monthly growth recorded since May and with volumes at above 100,000 MT compared to January-April period with volume ranging 58,571-89,097 MT, signaling the much delayed production recovery expected this year has now taken place. Volume this month, which is the highest achieved since October 2007, topped prior month total estimated at 146,205 MT by 47.7%.

       Coconut oil exclusively accounted for the increase in export with total at 124,948 MT soaring 80.6% from 69,191 MT year-ago. The volume is the highest recorded since October 2007 and the first to top the 100,000 MT-mark since April 2008. The United States was the top destination as last month with delivery at 64,069 MT representing 51.3% of total. Shipment to Europe at 54,759 MT accounted for 43.8%. Other markets were Japan with 4,120 MT and China with 2,000 MT for respective market share of 3.3% and 1.6%.

       Export of copra meal rose modestly by 7.0% to 39,864 MT from 37,261 MT. Korea remained a primary market with uptake at 23,900 MT comprising 60% of total trade. Vietnam was responsible for 15,952 MT or 40%. Japan took in very limited volume at 12 MT.

       Desiccated coconut and oleochemicals reported losses. Desiccated coconut slumped 37.9% to 9,915 MT from 15,972 MT. Since last April, shipment of desiccated coconut has been below 10,000 MT and has recorded year-on-year decline, compared to a range of 10,199-11,228 MT during the first quarter of this year and with record of year-on-year growth as opposed to other coconut products particularly coconut oil which were posting deficit during the period. Export of oleochemicals shrank by 50.1% to an estimated 2,218 MT in copra terms from 4,448 MT.

       Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority show eight non-traditional coconut products generated revenue of more than USD100,000 in May this year to qualify for the top non-traditional exports list. Leading the pack was GLYCERIN which earned USD1.652 million from export of 1,882 MT. The volume rocketed by 75.5% from 1,072 MT year-ago. Top destination was China with 772 MT (41.0% share), followed by Japan with 740 MT (39.3%); limited volume went to Russia at 91 MT, Malaysia at 66 MT, New Zealand, Australia and India at 40 MT apiece, Turkey at 32 MT, Denmark at 23 MT, Korea at 17 MT and Germany at 14 MT. Two other countries shared the remaining load of 8 MT.

       NATA DE COCO was the second biggest non-traditional export with gross receipts of USD735,046 from sale of 745 MT. The volume was a sharp rise by 13.9% from 656 MT year-ago. Japan remained the biggest buyer at 590 MT comprising 79.2% of total sales. Limited volume went to UAE at 59 MT, USA at 39 MT, Qatar at 15 MT, and 12 other countries led by China whose uptakes were no higher than 11 MT and combined total of 42 MT.

       VIRGIN COCONUT OIL was a close third with income of USD636,613 from 197 MT shipment. Volume during the month was a sharp increase by 54.2% from a similar month year-ago at 128 MT. The United States was market leader with 114 MT (57.7%), tracked by Canada at 55 MT (27.8%). Other destinations were Germany at 11 MT, Puerto Rico at 10 MT, and five other countries led by United Kingdom whose uptakes were no higher than 3 MT and combined volume of 7 MT.

       Ranked number four with proceeds of USD419,365 from 124 MT export was COCONUT MILK POWDER . Tonnage during the month skyrocketed by a whopping 354.9% from a similar month year-ago load at 27 MT. Japan was major buyer cornering 52 MT (42.1%), trailed by France at 26 MT (20.9%), Malaysia at 24 MT (19.6%), Taiwan 12 MT (9.7%), Korea 6 MT (5.1%) and China 3 MT (2.4%).

       TOILET/BATH SOAP landed fifth with turnover of USD353,118 from delivery of 162 MT. The volume during the month was 10.4% higher against the previous year at 147 MT. UAE was leading importer with uptake of 41 MT or 25.0% of total business, tracked by Indonesia at 37 MT (22.5%), Saudi Arabia 24 MT (14.5%), Nigeria 19 MT (11.7%), Singapore and Sudan at 15 MT a piece. Eighteen other countries led Taiwan took in at most 3 MT; total purchase of the group was 12 MT (7.4%).

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK was the top sixth export, earning USD263,928 from delivery of 168 MT. Tonnage during the month was a hefty climb by 163.3% from a similar month year-ago of 64 MT. Japan was leading buyer cornering 87 MT or 51.5% of total trade; followed far behind by Netherlands at 33 MT, Brazil 25 MT (14.9%) and Belgium at 18 MT (10.7%). Limited volume went to Canada and USA at 2 MT a piece and Saudi Arabia at 1 MT.

       SHAMPOO came in seventh place and generated income of USD132,490 from 34 MT export. Total outbound load during the month dwindled from prior year data at 126 MT by 72.9%. Singapore was top outlet with 13 MT (39.1%). Distance behind were Saudi Arabia with 6 MT, Mongolia at 4 MT, UAE at 3 MT, USA and Hawaii at 2 MT a piece; Micronesia, Hongkong, Guam, Trust Territory of the Pacific and Malaysia at 1 MT a piece; while 11 other countries contributed the remaining 1 MT.

       Figures from USDA show U.S. import of lauric oil appreciably dropped 33.7% in June this year. Total which amounted to 42,515 MT recorded a shortfall of 21,596 MT from June year-ago at 64,111 MT. Coconut oil purchases declined substantially by 48.4% to 22,648 MT from 43,826 MT, while palm kernel oil fell only slightly by 2.1% to 19,867 MT from 20,285 MT. Coconut oil still accounted for a bigger share of total lauric oil uptake at 53.3% and palm kernel oil 46.7%.

       Indonesia was top supplier of lauric oil to the U.S. during the month contributing 49.0% at 20,813 MT (8,000 MT last year). This comprised of coconut oil at 12,152 MT (8,000 MT) and palm kernel at 8,661 MT (nil last year). Malaysia was responsible for 34.1% at 14,522 MT, down 35.3% from last year at 22,443 MT. The product mix consisted of 11,206 MT palm kernel oil (20,285 MT) and 3,316 MT coconut oil (2,158 MT). The Philippines contributed 7,180 MT of coconut oil only (16.9%), to record a sizable deficit of 78.7% from year-ago at 33,668 MT.??

       Chemrez Technologies Inc. (Chemrez), the country?s largest coco biodiesel manufacturer reports a net income of P308.5 million for the first half of this year, an increase by 11.4 percent from P279.6 million at the same time last year. The company said the 51 percent hike in volume of sales, following the government mandated increase in the coco biodiesel component in local diesel blend helped propel revenue. Coco biodiesel continues to account for the bulk of revenues. Last February, the coco biodiesel content of local diesel blend was raised from 1 percent to 2 percent as mandated by the Biofuels Act of 2006.

       European trade sources said some EU buyers have voluntarily halted importation of U.S. soybean after discovery of traces of genetically modified (GM) maize in a shipment early this month, which are currently prohibited under EU law. Shipment of soyameal to Spain and Germany were found to contain traces of GM maize. Sources said that 50,000 tons of contaminated U.S. soyameal had been unloaded and detained at Tarragona, Spain?s largest port.

       Egypt?s state news agency MENA recently quoted an agricultural ministry official as denying an earlier report that the government had banned the import and export of genetically modified (GM) crops. The unmanned official was quoted as saying ?reports published by some newspapers and foreign press agencies?are not true?.