NEW DELHI: Coconut product exports have registered a 6.5 per cent increase of Rs. 600 crore in the first five months of the current fiscal.
Significant increase was recorded in the export of virgin coconut oil, activated carbon, dry carbon and coconut oil during the period between April and August.
The United States has emerged as the major importer of Indian activated carbon importing 27,125 tonnes followed by the UK. Dry coconut exports stood at 7,700 tonnes and of this, Pakistan imported 7,289 tonnes, a release issued by the Coconut Development Board said.
Export of virgin coconut oil was to the tune of 431 tonnes against 90 tonnes during the corresponding period last year. Of this, the United State alone imported 288 tonnes.
Desiccated coconut exports during the period were 1,053 tonnes with Iran emerging as the major importer. On coconut oil exports, the numbers stood at 2,998 tonnes with the UAE importing 734 tonnes for edible oil purposes followed by Myanmar, the US, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Singapore.
Export of husked coconut was 13,402 tonnes with major portion moving to the UAE.
During the first five months, the country also imported ₹143 crore worth coconut products and the major items included copra expeller cake, coconut fatty acid, coconut shell charcoal.
