Byline: MELODY M. AGUIBA

The countrys coconut oil export managed to post a slight growth to 479,863 metric tons (MT) in the first half of 2005, up by a minuscule 1.83 percent, as coconut output is seen to drag to a mere flat growth toward yearend.

Despite a minimal growth in

"Coconut oil price was a bit higher, and it could be firmer at $630 per ton by the end of the year compared to last years $620 price FOB. Its a function of supply in relation to soybean oil and palm oil," said PCA Deputy Administrator Arturo Liquete in an interview.

PCA projects that coconut oil output will reach to 2.369 million MT by the end of 2005, down by 0.34 percent from 2.377 million MT in 2004. This indicates a continuing downtrend from an actual output of 2.631 million MT in 2003.

"We still dont have (funds for) our major programs like fertilization," said PCA Administrator Emmanuel M. Paras.

PCA has always been planning to implement a program for fertilization and new planting that will enable the country to double copra production to four million until 2010, but it lacked the fund to finance these.

Liquete said it is good that coconut oil price recovered as of July 6 to $656 per MT, FOB, coming from a low level of $586 per MT on July 2 and from a lower $565 per MT two weeks ago.

"Its good that prices recovered fast when it dropped to $565 two weeks ago. They were expecting a higher soybean oil production (in the US)," he said.

Volume of export for the rest of the Philippines coconut export products expanded including desiccated coconut, up by 44.26 percent to 60,333 MT; coconut shell charcoal, up by 35.07 percent to 15,927 MT; coconut chemicals, up by 23.14 percent to 60,491 MT; and activated carbon, up by 0.9 percent to 16,577 MT. Only copra meal export decreased to 189,509 MT, down by 1.04 percent.

Except for copra meal, other coconut products export value grew. These are desiccated coconut, up by 59.18 percent to $58.97 million; coconut shell charcoal, up by 77.61 percent to $4.142 million; coconut chemicals, up by 48.71 percent to $30.83 million; activated carbon, up by 17.82 percent to $18.42 million; coconut chemicals; up by 48.71 percent to $30.83 million.

Copra meals export value was down by 18.05 percent to $14.199 million.