More coco product exports to EU eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC), is collaborating with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) on addressing challenges facing exporters as the country seeks to increase its coconut product shipments to Europe.

The DTI said Philippine exporters currently face hurdles such as mineral oil content and European Union (EU) regulations.

The agency said collaborative efforts to address these challenges are to be undertaken with the PCA and other relevant agencies, particularly in the aspect of information sharing.

The PCA is also looking into measures on how to increase the volume of exports through re-planting programs and consolidation of production by small coconut farmers to supply big volume orders from international buyers.

The Philippines is seeking to increase its coconut product exports to Europe, with Germany seen as the first country on the list.

The country is currently the number one supplier of coconut oil to Germany.

PTIC-Berlin and the PCA recently attended the Oils + Fats 2017 event held in Munich to promote Philippine coconut products to the EU.

According to PTIC-Berlin commercial counsellor Althea Antonio, the visit to Germany by Philippine officials included meetings with senior executives of various organizations and the Association of Oilseed Crushing & Oil Refining Industry in Germany.

Last year, total Philippine coconut product exports reached $2 billion, more than half of which came from sales of coconut oil.

Former agriculture secretary William Dar earlier said the Philippines has the potential to triple coconut exports to $6 billion by increasing the productivity of coconut trees to 150 nuts per year using dwarf hybrids developed by the PCA.