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by Elmo Leonard

Sri Lanka earned $127.21 million from exports of coconuts and coconut products from January to end-September this year as against $125.21 million in forex during the corresponding nine months of 2004.

But the higher earnings this year were accomplished using the equivalent of 1.85 million coconuts, as against the use of two million coconuts for exports, during January-September 2004. "The enhanced earnings come from the increased exports of non-kernel products," Coconut Development Authority (CDA's) director - marketing development and research, H D Jayasinghe said.

The export of kernel products during the nine months in review, in million nut equivalent was $56.90 million (Rs 5.69 billion) as against $64.69 million (Rs 6.56 billion) during the corresponding nine months of 2004. The change is a decrease of 13 percent.

The revenue earned from the exports on non-kernel products during the first nine months of 2005 is Rs 7.01 billion, when during January to end-September the export earnings from these products registered Rs 6.15 billion, according to a Customs official.

The national harvest of coconut decreases each year with the loss of coconut land for development. Coinciding, the cost of producing a coconut goes up. Jayasinghe said that Sri Lanka should concentrate on exporting finished raw materials of the non-kernel class.

Sri Lanka exports coconut raw materials such as mattress, bristle, fibre and twisted fibre, according to CDA statistics.

Finished, coconut shell products exported include coconut shell charcoal, shell flour and activated carbon.

Finished non-kernel products exported include coir yarn, twisted coir rope, tawashi brushes, brooms and brushes, coir mats and rugs.

Also exports of coir matting, rubberised coir pads and mattress for bedding, geo textiles, moulded coir products for use in horticulture, and the like.

Exports of value added products also include vinegar, coconut based arrack and coconut ekels.

Exports of kernel products make up coconut oil, desiccated coconut, copra, fresh nuts and seed nuts, coconut poonac, cream, coconut milk, defatted coconut and milk powder.

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