Data from the Philippine Coconut Authority show eight non-traditional coconut products generated export revenue of more than USD100,000 during the month, thus were qualified in the top non-traditional export products category. Leading the pack was GLYCERIN which earned USD713,401 from export of 994 MT. The volume during the month rose by a hefty 272.5% from 267 MT year-ago. Top destination was China with 534 MT (53.7% share), followed by Japan with 249 MT (25.1%). Eleven other destinations took in much lower volume no higher than 44 MT and aggregating 211 MT.

       VIRGIN COCONUT OIL was the second biggest non-traditional export with gross export receipts of USD614,197 from sale of 230 MT. The volume almost doubled the load in September year-ago at 122 MT. This month’s market leaders were United States with purchases of 114 MT and Canada with 105 MT which respectively accounted for 49.7% and 45.8%. Eleven other countries shared the remaining volume of 10 MT or 4.5%.

       COCONUT MILK POWDER landed in the third spot with income of USD606,887. Shipment during the month at 217 MT rose by a whopping 44.7% from similar month year-ago at 150 MT. France was the primary market with 102 MT (47%). Japan captured 35 MT, Netherlands 26 MT and Italy 24 MT and collectively shared 39.1%. Five other countries contributed the remaining volume of 30 MT or 13.9%.

       SHAMPOO ranked number four with earnings of USD266,975 from delivery of 57 MT. Volume, however, slumped by 44.5% from 103 MT at the same time last year. There were twenty five country destinations which was topped by Japan which cornered 14 MT or 24%, trailed by Thailand at 10 MT or 17.9%, Mongolia and Ecuador at 9 MT apiece. The remaining 21 other countries jointly shared 16 MT or 27.3%.

       TOILET/BATH SOAP took the fifth place with revenue of USD223,950. Quantity at 108 MT shrank substantially by 56.4% from 249 MT of the previous year. Singapore was leading buyer of the month responsible for 33 MT or 30.1% of total sales, followed by Saudi Arabia at 28 MT (25.7%), United Arab Emirates at 17 MT (15.3%), and Sudan at 13 MT (12.0%). Twenty-three other countries together contributed the remaining 18 MT (16.8%).

       LIQUID COCONUT MILK was the sixth top export with proceeds of USD172,759 from sale of 138 MT. Current month volume was 26.6% higher than previous year at 109 MT. Japan was leading importer with uptake of 56 MT or 40.5% of total business. The Netherlands procured 34 MT (24.3%) and the United States 26 MT (18.6%) while six other countries shared the remaining volume of 23 MT or 16.6%.

       MAKAPUNO occupied the seventh place with generated income of USD171,699 from 93 MT export. This month’s tonnage was 69.4% above year-ago data at 55 MT. Major outlets were United States with 40 MT (43.5%), Canada 11 MT (11.4%) and U.A.E 10 MT (11.1%). Sixteen other countries together shared 32 MT (34%)

       Secretary Arthur Yap of the Department of Agriculture has approved the Philippine Coconut Authority’s (PCA) innovative coconut production scheme that eliminates the tedious and more expensive process of nursery operation, polybagging of seedlings, transport and handling of seed nuts and seedling from source to planting site, among others. A brainchild of PCA Administrator Oscar G. Garin, the project seeks to plant 10 million coconut seedlings throughout the country using the most prolific open-pollinated coconut varieties.

       Dubbed as “Garin Formula” which the PCA administrator developed from his longtime farming experience in Guimbal, Iloilo, it adopts the participatory and reward system where participating farmers get monetary incentives through the planting process. Based on this formula, farmers will earn a minimum of P30 for every plant that they will establish in the field for a period of one year, or a total of P3,000 incentive per hectare. With this scheme, PCA expects to see new plantings of coconuts on 100,000 hectares which means an additional 10 million coconut trees. Initial funding will be provided by the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF).

       Green Fuel Corporation, a biodiesel company has successfully completed the negotiations for the landmark strategic agreement with Philippine conglomerate Guidance Management Corporation (GMC) to develop the entire value chain, encompassing the procurement of feedstock, oil crushing, extraction, and refining as well as the production of biodiesel. The signing was celebrated during the recent business meeting in Madrid, Spain, in the presence of President Gloria M. Arroyo and attended by Green Fuel Corporation’s representatives, company shareholders, and other Philippine government officials.

       Figures from Sri Lanka’s Coconut Development Authority show the country’s export of desiccated coconut in August hiked by 4.9% to 5,687 MT from 5,421 MT in the same month a year earlier. January-August 2007 total is placed at 32,574 MT, an increase by 26.1% from comparable year-ago period figure at 25,831 MT.

       Oil World estimates show Chinese import of 17 oils and fats in January-December 2007 at 10.070 million MT. This is 25.7% higher than the annual total in 2006 at 8.011 million MT and accelerates by 44.5% volume two years ago at 6.970 million MT. The increase will be mainly driven by soya oil which almost double last year total. Palm oil though is the top import at 5.740 million MT, up by 5.1% from year-ago total at 5.462 million MT and to account for 57.0% of aggregate. Second largest oil import will be soya oil with total at 2.900 million MT, soaring by 87.9% from last year at 1.543 million MT and to take a 28.8% market share.