By MARVYN N. BENANING
October 16, 2011, 10:37pm
MANILA, Philippines — International demand for coconut water (buko
juice) is expected to grow dramatically as more and more people become
health-conscious. To Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) Administrator
Euclides G. Forbes, the global craving for coco water is good news for
the nation's coconut industry.
For the first semester alone, countries thirsting for buko juice raised
their imports by 315 percent, Forbes said.
Since coconut water became in vogue, more countries purchased the liquid
and chances are, they will export it in the future, he said.
The PCA's first semester figures showed 7,500,742 liters of coconut
water exported to the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin and Central
America, and the Middle East.
In comparison, last year's record for the same semester was 1,807,087
liters.
The highest increase was registered by the US, which raised its imports
by 387 percent, taking in 6,196.211 liters compared with last year's
1,273,324 liters.
Coco water exports to Europe grew to 213,220 liters from last year's
72,280 liters.
For Asia and the Pacific, the exports rose from 145,778 liters to
360,412 liters, while the exports to Latin and Central America zoomed to
483,338 liters from only 190,990 liters for a comparable period in 2010.
In the Middle East, the exports skyrocketed to 166,561 liters from only
37,450 liters.
Forbes said coco water is a natural beverage rich in potassium and
magnesium and contains a considerable amount of vitamin B, like thiamin
that strengthens the muscles, delays fatigue, and maintains normal heart
function.
The liquid is regarded as a good source of electrolytes and glucose, and
has been found to be suitable for intravenous rehydration. It is
considered to be an effective treatment for urinary stones.
After his US visit to the US last month, President Benigno S. Aquino III
said two American firms expressed interest in investing in the country's
coconut industry.
Forbes said the high demand for coconut water compels the country to
plant more trees to meet the demand not only for coconut water, but for
other coconut byproducts as well.
He reaffirmed his vow to implement vigorously the Participatory Coconut
Planting Project.
Under this program, farmers are not only beneficiaries of the project,
but also active partners in the development process.
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