Export earnings from coconut, related products top Rs. 24b

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The country has earned an income of Rs. 24 billion from exports of coconut and coconut related products last year.

This is an increase of 23 per cent compared to 2006, the Plantation Industries Ministry revealed.

Sri Lanka has exported a total of Rs 19,669 million worth of products in 2006 and it has increased up to Rs. 24,096 million in 2007. Sri Lanka exports coconut related products to over 100 countries under 35 main categories, according to the Ministry.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka has exported 15,393 metric tonnes of desiccated coconut receiving an income of Rs. 621 million. The export of desiccated coconut to Europe, Middle East and African countries stood at mt 13,489, 16,270 and 6,523 last year.

Export of coconut milk has shown a 75 per cent increase compared to 2006 where Rs. 430 million worth of foreign exchange has been received.

The total export of coconut milk in 2007 was 6,864 metric tonnes. Foreign exchange earned from coconut shell related products was Rs. 2,613 million which is an increase of 25 per cent compared to 2006.

Ministry sources said there is a huge demand from US, Italy, Japan and Sweden for active carbon from Sri Lanka and for charcoal from Netherlands,China and France.

Coir products also has a high demand due to its high quality which has received foreign exchange worth of Rs. 2,605 million displaying a growth of 24 per cent compared to 2006.