Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator Euclides G. Forbes bared that coco export earnings for year 2011 reached $1,957,275,683.00 which is a 20.28 percent increase compared with 2010 figures of $1,627,297,062.00. Some 39 coconut products and by products are exported to at least 100 countries.

The Administrator said that top seller is coconut oil with $1, 408,397,264.00 which is 12 percent higher compared with 2010 earnings of $1,257,214,295.00. Second in the list is desiccated coconut with $286,766,232.00 earnings which is 87.90 percent higher than last year's figures. Coco chemicals registered a 103.01 percent increase with $35,357,525.00 earnings compared with 2010 earnings of $17,416,845.00.

Other coconut products and by-products showed an increase of 69.48 percent in earnings with $121,210,394.00 figures for 2011 and $71,520,273.00 for 2010. Other coconut products include coco water, virgin coconut oil, coco chips, coco jam, coco vinegar, frozen coco meat, liquid coconut milk, coconut milk powder, makapuno coco liquor , handicraft and baled coir among others Administrator Forbes added.

He also said that the increase in value however does not match the volume which registered a 35.44 decrease with 2,331,752.90 MT in 2010 down to 1,505,470.66 MT in 2011. Despite the decrease in volume, the prospects remain bright for the coconut industry with the emergence of new products like coconut sap sugar and its by products.

© 2012. All Right Reserved Philippine Coconut Authority Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines (0632) 928-4501 Email: pca_cpo@yahoo.com.ph