Preliminary UCAP data show export in November contracted 15.6% to 88,031 MT in copra terms from 104,342 MT in the same month last year. The figure nearly halved (46.9%) prior month total estimated at 165,910 MT and is the lowest since shipments touched the 100,000 MT level in the last six months to October.

       Much of the deficit came from coconut oil which scaled back lifting by 17.9% to 42,198 MT from 51,417 MT. Shipment of desiccated coconut similarly was reduced by 23.4% to 10,211 MT from 13,338 MT. Volume, however, topped the monthly average in the third quarter at 9,890 MT by 3.2%. On the other hand, export of copra meal and oleochemicals soared during the month. Copra meal shot up by 227.4% to 39,638 MT from 12,106 MT and oleochemical by 149.9% to 5,263 MT in copra terms from 2,106 MT.

       Bulk of coconut oil export in November went to the United States, according UCAP preliminary data. Volume at 30,831 MT accounted for three-fourths (73.1%) of total delivery. China and Japan purchased quite substantial volume respectively at 5,500 MT and 5,165 MT which comprised 13.0% and 12.2% of aggregate. Other markets were Taiwan with 662 MT and Pakistan 40 MT. There was no shipment made to Europe during the month. However, an estimated 20,000 MT bound for Europe was not loaded during the month due to change in vessel schedule and therefore will become part of December data.

       Based on official Philippine Coconut Authority data, there were nine non-traditional coconut export products that generated over USD100,000 in September and thus considered the top nine exports in this category. Leading the pack was GLYCERIN which earned USD2.412 million from export of 2,024 MT. This month?s volume was 23.4% higher from 1,641 MT at the same time last year. Top destination was Japan with 1,590 MT (78.5% share), followed far behind by China with 244 MT (12.0%). Other destinations were Russia 58 MT, Malaysia 46 MT, Taiwan 26 MT, Hongkong and Belgium at 20 MT apiece. Three other countries shared the remaining volume of 21 MT.

       NATA DE COCO was the second biggest non-traditional export with gross export receipts of USD584,443 from the sale of 522 MT. Current month volume was more than double same month year ago at 249 MT. Japan was almost an exclusive buyer with purchases representing 79.5% or 415 MT. Other markets were United Arab Emirates (38 MT), United States (26 MT), Canada (16 MT) and Qatar 13 MT, and nine others countries whose combined volume was 14 MT.?

       TOILET/BATH SOAP took the third spot with income of USD472,535 from 250 MT delivery. Tonnage during the month jumped by a whopping 219.7% from similar month year-ago load at 78 MT. Thailand took in bulk of the export with 188 MT (75.3%). Other markets were Sudan (14 MT), Singapore (13 MT) and Saudi Arabia (12 MT). Others market category which comprised 21 various countries imported a total of 23 MT.

       VIRGIN COCONUT OIL came in fourth with revenue of USD375,891 from sale of 129 MT. Total during the month cut prior year data at 179 MT by 27.5%. This month?s market leaders were U.S. at 71 MT and Canada at 51 MT which jointly accounted for 94.6% of total trade. Seven other countries took in a total of 7 MT.

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK ranked number five with revenue of USD370,503 from trade of 208 MT. Volume leaped by 58.3% from similar period year-ago at 132 MT. There were five country destinations led by United States at 83 MT (39.7%), followed by Brazil at 75 MT (36.0%), Mexico at 34 MT (16.1%), Japan 15 MT (7.3%) and Canada at 2 MT (0.8%).

       COCONUT MILK POWDER was the sixth top export and earned USD274,966 from delivery of 88 MT. A decline by 28.9% in volume was registered from the previous year total at 123 MT. The shipment went to eight countries topped by Japan which captured 44 MT or 49.9%, trailed by Malaysia at 25 MT (28.5%), Taiwan at 12 MT (13.7%). The remaining five other countries together shared 7 MT (8.0%).

       SHAMPOO occupied the seventh place which earned USD177,049 from export of 46 MT. The volume leaped by 85.2% from a similar period year-ago data at 25 MT. Mongolia was the primary market with 10 MT (21.4%), followed by Marshall Island which captured 7 MT (14.2%). Nineteen other countries bought the remaining volume of 29 MT or 63.0%.

       ALKANOMIDE which earned USD160,259 from export of 108 MT (98 MT year-ago) filled in the eighth place. Thailand was market leader with 41 MT (37.8%), tracked by Turkey at 32 MT (29.8%), India and Canada at 14 MT (13%) apiece. Limited volume went to Taiwan at 4 MT and Australia at 3 MT.

       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 September by 28.9% to 13,397 MT from 18,830 MT in a similar month last year as both countries scaled back shipments. Export from the Philippines, which accounted for 79.1% of combined volume, declined 21.8% to 10,603 MT from 13,558 MT while shipment from Sri Lanka at 2,794 MT nearly halved last year total at 5,272 MT (-47.0%). Computed average traded price of Philippine desiccated coconut was USD1,149.83/MT FOB (USD1,868.53/MT last year) as against Sri Lankan product at $1,118.68/MT FOB (USD1,819.65/MT).

       Bulgaria will introduce compulsory blending beginning 2010 to boost the usage of the green fuels and meet EU environmental targets. The new rules, which take effect in March next year, will require blending 2% biodiesel in the diesel fuel mix. The biodiesel blending ratio will be raised twice a year to hit 8% by 2015 and 10% in 2020. In the case of ethanol, the 2% blend will only come in March 2011.

       Cargill announced last week that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Goodman Fielder?s Commercial Edible Fats and Oils business. The A$240 million purchase includes the Commercial business? four fats and oils refining assets located in West Footscray in Melbourne, Murarrie in Brisbane, Bunbury near Perth and East Tamaki in Auckland, New Zealand. Goodman Fielder will retain the title to the land at the Brisbane facility that is subject to an extended lease back to Cargill.

       The United Soybean Board (USB) recently released its annual list of soybean-based products that the soybean checkoff helped introduce this year and 26 new soy-based products hit the market in 2009. USB?s New Uses program provides funding to scientists and industrial partners to research, develop, and commercialize products containing soybeans. The soybean checkoff directs its funding toward several categories, including adhesives, coatings, printing inks, lubricants, plastics, fibers and solvents.

       The US Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has proposed changes in nutrition labeling, suggesting more emphasis on calories, added sugars, saturated and trans fats, and sodium. CSPI is also calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on deceptive health claims, to mandate the labeling of caffeine content, and to disallow companies from claiming that a product contains zero grams of trans fat if it is high in saturated fat.