Export Performance of Philippine Top Non-Traditional Coconut Products in January 2025

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed there were 17 non-traditional coconut products that sold over USD100,000 in the month of January this year, same number as December 2024.  The million-dollar earners though were eight, one product short of last month at nine.  These included coconut water, coconut oil other, hydrogenated coconut oil, glycerin, fatty acid distillates, coconut water concentrate, coconut milk liquid and coconut milk powder.  

COCONUT WATER remained the top non-traditional coconut product export for the eighth month running in January, turning in USD10.766 million from sales of 12,871 MT.  The volume rocketed several folds from 536 MT in a similar month a year ago.  The USA likewise kept its leading position in the market with uptake at 9,196 MT responsible for 71.4% of total.  This was followed by United Kingdom at 2,185 MT (17.0%).  Limited volumes went to Canada at 851 MT, Netherlands at 118 MT (2.0%), and 14 others that took in volume ranging 1-95 MT for a total of 521 MT.  This group comprised of China, Hong Kong, Oman, Taiwan, Kuwait, South Korea, France, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Iceland, Australia, Israel, Saudi Arabia.

COCONUT OIL, OTHER category also secured its second spot having earned USD3.942 million from overseas trade of 1,110 MT, rising 22.9% from 904 MT last year.  The USA was still top market capturing 733 MT (66.0%), followed by Canada at 238 MT (21.5%), Netherlands at 81 MT and seven others with uptake ranging 1-21 MT for a total of 58 MT namely Japan, Czech Republic, Taiwan, Australia, Hungary, Hong Kong, Costa Rica.

HYDROGENATED COCONUT OIL likewise kept its third position as in the previous month with turnover of USD3.729 million after trading 3,150 MT. The shipment more than doubled (+105.6%) from 1,532 MT of the previous year.  Principal market was the USA which took delivery of 1,447 MT (45.9%). Other destinations were Australia at 660 MT (21.0%), Canada at 567 MT (18.0%), Netherlands at 362 MT (11.5%).  Five other countries took in limited loads ranging 7-42 MT for a total of 114 MT namely New Zealand, Taiwan, China, Japan, Malaysia. 

In the fourth place was GLYCERIN with income of USD2.237 million. The product, which also maintained last month’s position, delivered 2,378 MT which declined by 13.1% from the prior year at 2,737 MT.  China and Japan were still the key importers in that order. China took 1,222 MT (51.4%) and Japan 349 MT (14.7%).  Trailing them were India at 314 MT (13.2%), Malaysia at 171 MT (7.2%), USA at 108 MT (4.6%), Thailand at 101 MT, and four others which held tonnage ranging 21-41 MT for a total of 112 MT.  This comprised of South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Canada. 

Holding the fifth position was FATTY ACID DISTILLATES which generated USD1.978 million after selling 1,411 MT, an increase by 11.9% from prior year at 1,260 MT last year.  China was the sole importer of the product.  

The other variant of coconut water, the COCONUT WATER CONCENTRATE held the sixth spot, with export proceeds of USD1.728 million from overseas orders of 480 MT (no recorded export last year).  China remained a principal buyer in the last three months, responsible for 200 MT this month (41.6%), followed by Brazil at 95 MT (19.7), USA at 95 MT (19.7%), Thailand at 45 MT (9.4%), Netherlands at 24 MT (4.9%), and Vietnam at 22 MT (4.6%). 

COCONUT MILK LIQUID registered income of USD1.371 million and placed seventh.   Overseas purchases at 1,016 MT shot up 490.3% from merely 172 MT in the prior year.  Malaysia maintained its leading position with this month’s uptake at 862 MT representing bulk of the pack at 84.8%.   The remainder was shared among China at 85 MT (8.4%), United Kingdom at 57 MT (5.6%), and Japan, United Arab Emirate and the USA which held volume ranging 0.44-9 MT for a total of 12 MT.

Another coconut milk variant, COCONUT MILK POWDER, occupied the eighth place with earnings of USD1.337 million.  Total volume sold at 236 MT skyrocketed from only 12 MT shipped out last year.  Mexico was market leader at 92 MT (39.0%), trailed by China at 39 MT (16.6%), Taiwan at 25 MT (10.6%), Japan at 24 MT (10.3%), Australia at 22 MT (9.4%), USA at 20 MT (8.4%), France at 14 MT (5.8%).

Landing in the ninth position was BIODIESEL with export proceeds of USD873,332.  This month’s delivery at 344 MT declined by 13.7% from last year at 398 MT.  Germany led the pack with orders amounting to 236 MT (68.8%), followed far behind by South Korea at 88 MT (25.6%), and Japan at 20 MT (5.7%).  These three countries were the same importers of biodiesel in the previous month. 

Completing the top 10 non-traditional coconut products export was TOILET/BATH SOAP which generated USD854,401 with sales volume at 409 MT slightly rising 2.7% from 398 MT last year.  Vietnam was the market leader which bought 224 MT (54.8%).  Other markets were Indonesia at 62 MT (15.3%), Thailand at 29 MT (7.2%), Qatar at 22 MT (5.4%), Malaysia 21 MT (5.1%), United Arab Emirates at 21 MT (5.1%), Saudi Arabia at 12 MT (3.0%) and nine others with limited orders ranging 0.22-5 MT for a total of 17 MT.  The latter group was composed of Oman, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, Uganda. 
The next seven major non-traditional coconut products exports were Dried Mature Coconut Meat, Nata de Coco, Coconut Meat Chips, Coconut Acid Oil, Coco Peat/Dust, Makapuno, and Coconut Flour. Details to follow in next issue of UWB.