PSA: Philippine Export of Coconut Products Up in August

Official figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed export of coconut products by the Philippines in August hiked 21.8% year-on-year to 204,407 MT in copra terms from 167,831 MT. This marked the fifth consecutive year-on-year monthly rise that started in April.  Gross export receipts leaped 46.5% to USD235.185 million from USD160.581 million.
All major exports posted double-digit year-on-year increases during the month.  Coconut oil export was 108,695 MT, topping by 20.3% the previous year at 90,381 MT; by-product copra meal climbed 30.5% to 48,133 MT from 36,879 MT; desiccated coconut jumped 26.4% to 16,845 MT from 13,329 MT; oleochemical shot up 55.0% to 5,832 MT as copra from 3,762 MT.
Other products performed as follows, MT: coco shell charcoal 13,368 (+69.7% from 7,878 last year), activated carbon 5,738 (+37.0% from 4,187), virgin coconut oil 35 (-98.1% from 1,894), coco water 17,494 (+70.2% from 10,279), fresh coconuts 13 (+264.3% from 4), Others 18,717 (+12.5% from 16,637). 
The cumulative figure for the eight-month period to August at 1,893,852 MT in copra terms leaped 36.6% from 1,386,391 MT. Aggregate turnover of USD1.776 billion soared 35.5% from USD1.310 billion at the same time last year. Except for oleochemicals, the major exports exceeded the previous year’s respective levels.  
Breakdown of shipment by volume follows, MT: coconut oil 1,054,384 (745,162 last year), copra meal 245,899 (195,025), desiccated coconut 114,950 (102,265), oleochemicals as copra 42,506 (45,484); Coco shell charcoal 89,178 (73,986), activated carbon 37,646 (40,650), virgin coconut oil 4,371 (18,344), coco water 68,209 (49,960), fresh coconuts 101 (159), Others 146,912 (125,364).