Sri Lanka’s coconut related exports increased by 86 percent during the first quarter of this year compared to 2011, Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry sources said yesterday.
The Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry was established in 2011 as a new Cabinet ministry. According to ministry statistics, during the first quarter of this year, Sri Lanka earned over Rs. 5,090 million from coconut related products, an 88 percent increase from the same period in 2011.
In the first quarter of 2011 it was Rs. 2,115 million. It increased annually and the total coconut related products export revenue in 2013 stood at Rs. 44,952 million. Sri Lanka exports 35 coconut related products to 135 countries.
The revenue from desiccated coconut exports increased by 306 percent, coconut cream and coconut milk exports increased by 220
percent and 100 percent in January this year compared to January last year, the statistics stated.
Meanwhile, ministry sources said king coconut exports also increased dramatically this year.
However, according to the sources, coconut based substrates were exported in the form of grow bags, coir pith bales, coir bulk forms, coir pots, husk chips and coir peat for which a great demand exists in the international market.
Substrates are exported as inputs in cultivation activities which are in demand in Canada, America, Eastern and Western Europe, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Russia and West Asia.
