The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) reports that coconut water exports in the first semester of 2012 went by up 81 percent year-on-year to 10.249 million liters from 5.662 million liters, increasing export earnings by 100.54 percent to $11.18 million from $5.57 million.

The PCA attributed the increase to the continued patronage of foreign markets like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Guam, Hong Kong, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, several Pacific Islands, the United Arab Emirates, Hawaii and the rest of the US.

The emergence of new markets increased the take by as much as 694,179 liters. The new markets include American Samoa, Belgium, Brunei, Cyprus, France, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Peru, China, Qatar, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Virgin Islands.

Top exporting countries

The US was the Philippines' biggest market for coconut water, with shipments going up by almost 128 percent to $8.7 million or nearly eight million liters.

The Netherlands was the second biggest market with the exports volume going up by 158.12 percent on year to 406,034 liters — in terms of value, a jump of almost 200 percent to $452,996 in January to June.

Singapore ranked third with 331,268 liters of coconut water worth $360,515.

PCA administrator Euclides Forbes said he is confident that fresh coconut water exports for 2012 will reach16.68 million liters.

Meeting the demand

Natural, rich in potassium and magnesium, and a good source of electrolytes and glucose, fresh coconut water has been growing in popularity worldwide as a beverage option.

As a coconut water exporter, the Philippines should plant more coconut trees to meet the growing need, said Forbes.

The expansion of coconut plantation is being pushed through the Participatory Coconut Planting Project. Under this program, farmers are not just mere recipients and beneficiaries of the project but active partners in the development process.

The program is expected to generate new job opportunities, especially among coconut farmers.

Virgin coconut oil exports also rose 113.41 percent to 4.422 million liters from 2.072 million liters, volume-wise for a 116.57-percent rise in value to $18.195 million from $8.4 million.

The country's coconut exports in the month of June registered an increase of 102.92 percent to 71,313 metric tons (MT) from 144,712 MT during the period in review while value went up by 27.44 percent to $153 million from $120 million. — BM, GMA News