Department of Trade and Industry-Davao del Sur Provincial Director Maria Victoria Placer reported about Davao Region’s vibrant coconut as it remained a top exporter of coconut and coconut byproducts to the USA, Europe, China, and South Korea.
“The coconut industry in the Davao Region has long been very vibrant considering that the region is one of the producers of coconut,” Placer said during Business Matters at Hukad Ayala Mall Abreeza.
She said the region’s major markets for Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) are the United States of America, Europe, and South Korea.
“As we all know coconut is a traditional product and we have been exporting mga traditional coconut oil but with the advent of different technologies, we have been working on the development of new products which has potential in the market like VCO, we all know ang VCO has been proven helped in Covid-19 because it has anti-microbial characteristics that will help in the anti-inflammatory and anti-infection,” Placer said.
Placer added that the region is also the top exporter of Desiccated Coconut with the US and Europe as two major markets.
She mentioned that Coco Davao, Agri Exim Global Philippines Inc. and Franklin Baker, all based in Davao del Sur, are the major exporters of Desiccated Coconut.
“Ang coconut oil is being used as additives for food, cosmetics, and others. We are also the top exporter of desiccated coconut and we all know Franklin Baker is a major player in the desiccated coconut industry ug ang major market ani are USA and Europe,” Placer said.
She said other coco products such as fibers, piths, coirs, husk chips are also exported to China and Europe.
“In Europe, they no longer merely use soil as their medium in growing vegetables. They are already using coconut husks or coconut piths and grow the plants in agricultural buildings,” said Placer, who added that the region is also an exporter of activated carbon.
