Coconut products export earnings up in 1H

Export earnings from coconut products amounted to Rs 13,637 million compared to the first half of 2009, a 35 percent increase compared to the corresponding figure of Rs.10,158 million in 2008 according to the Coconut Development Authority (CDA).

Coconut products

The same positive momentum is envisaged to continue even during the second half of 2009 and Rs.30 billion is targeted as foreign exchange from exports of coconut products in 2009.

CDA Chairman Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe said that this achievement had been made despite the strong global recession and negative economic growth scenario in many importing countries.

The huge demand for coconut fibre and fibre products from China has triggered the activities of the fibre industry to an unprecedented level.

The export earnings from mattresses, Bristle and Twisted fibre recorded a 75 percent growth during the period under review as against the earnings of 2008. Apart from China countries such South Korea (4,357mt), Germany (2,825 mt), Japan (2,541 mt), Poland (1,493 mt) imported significant quantities of Coir fibre.

Export earnings from coconut kernel products such as desiccated coconut, coconut cream, coconut milk powder, coconut oil and poonac amounted to Rs. 6,204 million, an increase of 62 percent against the corresponding earnings of the previous year. Desiccated coconut was mostly exported to the UAE (4,300mt), Egypt (2,539mt) Saudi Arabia (2,372mt) Pakistan (1,255mt) and coconut milk powder was mostly exported to the UAE (390mt), Jamaica (214mt), UK (172mt) Belgium (152mt).

The leading importers of coconut milk and cream were Germany (744mt), UK (688mt), Netherlands (141mt) and Canada (125mt).

The export of coconut shell products remained steady and registered a 32 percent growth during the period under review compared to 2008.