Coconut exports touch Rs 125 crore in Q1

The Coconut Development Board (CDB) has launched a global campaign to promote export of coconut products, and has set an export target of Rs 600 crore for the current fianancial year. In the quarter ended June 30, exports touched Rs 125 crore and are expected to cross the target by the end of the financial year.

Exports grew by 34.19 per cent in value to touch Rs 442.56 crore in 2009-10 as against Rs 329.80 crore in the previous fiscal. There had been an increase of 30.65 per cent in volume to garner 116,000 tonnes as against 86,857 tonnes in the previous year, said CV Ananda Bose, chairman of the Board, here on Wednesday.

 

Products are exported to 84 countries across the globe, with coconut shell based steam-activated carbon, a value-added product, is exported to 38 countries and coconuts are exported to countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Singapore, Uganda, UK, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE, Lebanon and Oman. Coconut oil and virgin coconut oil are being exported to various Asian and Eurpoean markets.

Bose said that the Board was in advanced stages of interaction with the customs cell of the Central Board of Excise and Customs for provision of individual and dedicated 8-digit lines in the customs tariff for different coconut products such as coconut shell based steam-activated carbon, virgin coconut oil and tender coconut water.

The Board has identified the four regions of Russia, Germany, America and West Asia as focus areas for promotion of virgin coconut oil, coconut oil, activated carbon, tender coconut water and coconut-based handicraft products.

A coconut export manual has been released in April this year, providing information about the policy, procedure, applications, documentation, shipping formalities, benefits available, standard procedures of commerce and banking regulations.

CDB is also planning to undertake export promotion activities in overseas markets by sending trade delegations to potential markets, participation in the important trade fairs/exhibitions so as to penetrate into new potential markets.

The Board has developed different value-added products in association with the leading research institutions like Defence Food Research Laboratory and Central Food Technological Research Institute. Many of these products are expected to find export markets.

The Board is also exploring the possibility of exporting particle boards made out of the softwood waste of coconut trees and coconut oil-based herbal formulations.