Increase in coconut products export earnings
Coconut Development Authority (CDA) declares that export earnings
from coconut products amounted to Rs. 13,637 million over the first half
of 2009 and it was a substantial increase by 35 per cent as compared to
the corresponding figure of Rs. 10,158 million in 2008.
The same positive momentum is envisaged to continue even during the
2nd half of 2009 and it is expected to earn Rs. 30 billion as foreign
exchange from exports of coconut products in 2009. Keerthi Sri
Weerasighe, Chairman, CDA stated that this achievement has been made
despite a strong global recession and negative economic growth scenario
in many importing countries.
Especially the huge demand for Coconut fibre and fibre products from
China has triggered the activities of Fibre industry to an unprecedented
level.
The export earning from mattress, Bristle and Twisted fibres
showcased 75 per cent growth during the period under review as against
the relevant earnings of 2008. Other than China countries like South
Korea(4,357mt), Germany (2,825mt), Japan (2,541mt), Poland (1,493mt) had
been import significant quantities of coir fibre.
At the same time export earnings from Coconut Kernel Products such as
Desiccated coconut, Coconut cream, Coconut milk powder, Coconut oil,
Poonac etc. amounted to Rs. 6,204 million and this was an increase of 62
per cent against the corresponding earnings of the previous year.
Desiccated coconut was mostly exported to U.A.E. (4,300mt), Egypt
(2,539mt) Saudi Arabia (2,372mt) Pakistan (1,255mt) and Coconut Milk
Powder was mostly exported to U.A.E. (390mt), Jamaica (214mt), U.K.
(172mt) and Belgium (152mt). Leading importers of Coconut Milk and Cream
were Germany (744mt), U.K. (688mt), Netherlands (141mt) and Canada
(125mt).
Meanwhile, export of Coconut Shell products remained steady and
registered a positive note of 32 per cent growth during the period under
review against the year 2008.
The demand for Activated carbon envisaged to increase strongly in the
near future due to new possible applications.
However exports of value added coir products experienced a marginal
set back by about 3 per cent in terms of value as compared to year 2009
as a reflection of economic recession in developed countries.
Chairman, Coconut Development Authority, Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe
stated that CDA has implemented number of programmes to uplift the
coconut industry and to boost the demand for coconut products under
Mahinda Chintana with the guidance of D.M. Jayaratne, Minister,
Plantation Industries. Especially as a measure to exploit the export
market and to step up the foreign investment, number of discussions and
meetings were held with foreign delegations during the period under
review.
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